ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE
STAR BLAZERS—THE PRINCESS AND THE SURFER
Being the seventh part of THE NEW COMET-- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz
This Act is being completed with the Cooperation and Assistance of Derek A.C. Wakefield (as usual)
Note: This chapter contains some mature content…just wanted to warn you…
ACT EIGHT: MEETINGS AND A DUEL…
I. ARRIVALS…
Planet Iscandar
Over New Fiji Island
Wednesday June 10, 2207: 1100 Hours Earth Space-Time
"Trojans, break it open a bit!" said Deke Wakefield over Iscandar from the cockpit of the repaired Diamond Girl. He and his plane were repaired, and Sasha and he now resided together, at long last as a married couple with a home of their own, even though "home" was now a somewhat cramped stateroom aboard the Argo. "I'm going ahead a bit, Bangs."
"Roger that," said "Bangs" Capistrano from her plane as as smiled at Brew's plane from far away. He smiled back. "Don't get lost, sir. We just got you back."
"I'm just going down a few angels," said Deke as he began to drop altitude by a few thousand meters.
"Is it quiet?" he asked as he looked back at the second place.
"Roger," smiled the young lady in the second place of the plane. "Five by five, all quiet."
"Good," said Deke. Sasha was now his regular RSO in the second place of his Tiger as they flew their routine patrol over Iscandar.
"I wonder where the enemy's been the past few days, Sasha?" said Deke with a somewhat puzzled and perplexed look on his face under his helmet faceplate above his Star Force Flight Group uniform. "Everyone has told me that no one has seen a single enemy recon ship around since late Saturday night!"
"Hey, Deke!" laughed Brew over the radio above them. "We're getting low on fuel! Should we head back to the Argo?"
"Might be a good idea," he said. "Argo, this is Trojan Leader Wakefield! Getting ready to bring in the Trojans…"
"Negative," said Homer from the ship. "Gamilon Comm-Scan picked up the ghost of a Cometine light carrier out at the edge of the system. We're past Gamilon already; going to check it out!"
"How far out?" said Wakefield. "Tell Wildstar we're low on fuel…"
There was silence, then Homer came back on. "We're about to warp on Wildstar's orders. The Captain says that if you are low on fuel, you're clear to land at New Fiji Island to refuel and await further orders. OVER."
"Over," said Deke. "Bangs, Brew, bring them in. The Argo's heading far out and we don't have the gas to catch up with her now. We'll refuel and catch them on the way back."
"Roger," said Brew and Bangs.
"I wonder, Sasha, where the enemy is?" said Deke. "One spacecraft carrier?"
"Maybe they're sleeping? Or regrouping, Deekee?" said Sasha with a cute smile from her place in the cockpit with her beaming face over her blue uniform.
"Sleeping?" said Deke. He now had the plane down low enough where they could make out trees. "Just one thousand, now…begin landing preps…this is weird…"
"Seriously, Mother has picked up only confusion in their ranks in the past few days," said Sasha. "She has a general idea where that horrible-looking city-ship is, and she told me yesterday that everyone aboard is both scared and real uncertain. And, it seems no one knows where Invidia went," said Sasha as they came in for a landing. Upon landing, they opened the cockpit. The hot, humid summery air felt nice.
"An evil Space Princess playing hookey?" said Deke with a shrug. "I don't think so. Maybe someone got her in the middle of the night with some kind of weapon? A knife. A blaster. Drumsticks."
"Drumsticks?" said Sasha.
"Hey, if you can be silly, I can be silly, too," said Wakefield with a grin.
Something beeped on Sasha's scope before she shut down. "Radar contact…nine kilometers up"
Sirens began to sound on the base as Deke taxied to a stop. "Oh, damnit, we spoke too soon," said Deke.
"IFF says it's friendly," said Sasha as she pulled up info like crazy. "It's Pellian! A single ship; one of those cool new Starbats from off their space battleships, Deke! They say they even have a few experimental models that can do space warps by themselves," she whispered.
"Impressive, if it's true," said Deke as they looked back. A plane was coming in up above, them, fast. But, Wakefield recognized the shape and knew it was friendly. He looked at Sasha. "You think we should do that? Someday? Develop an advanced bird like that?"
Sasha nodded. "Definitely," she said. "I'm getting funny feelings about the pilot." Sasha shut her eyes as she looked up. "She's a girl. She's really upset or troubled over something, whoever she is. Want to watch it land?"
"Guess so," shrugged Deke. "We can see it land right before Bangs and Brew and the others show up…" Deke got out as enlisted men ran up. "Guys! Get some heavy water into my fighter ASAP! The reactor was about to go into reserve mode when I got her down. I don't want this plane messed up again!"
"Yessir!" said the enlisted men with salutes as Sasha followed Deke out. They pulled off their helmets and kissed. "Debriefing time," he muttered as the Marine in their aft ball turret followed them. "Sasha, you know where we go…"
"Right," said Sasha.
THREE HOURS LATER…
NEW FIJI ISLAND PELLIAN FORCES FLIGHT COMMAND BUILDING…
"We never thought we'd see you again, Lieutenant," said an older Pellian officer…known as Commander Jan Ranklin, as he gave "Katrina Savela" a big hug as he read the notes from her debriefing beforehand, as well as preliminary notes from her intake physical.
"They kept me prisoner for a long time in the Comet Empire," said Katrina, or, rather, the woman masquerading as her.
Invidia carried Katrina's helmet, and she wore her black and silver jumpsuit and blaster, and a small flight bag. Her ID card was on the table that she sat at with Michelle Hartnell-Iiyama. They had looked at the ID card and given it back after scanning it. They hadn't bothered to open her flight bag yet. The Pellians considered it a 90 certainty that "Katrina" was who she claimed to be. Luckily for her.
"So, you were the last survivor of the space battleship Kasonder?" said Ranklin. "We lost contact with her about a month ago."
Katrina nodded sadly as she held Michelle's hand. Michelle had kept mostly silent, but, part of her was sorely tempted to spill the beans right here; about Invidia, that is. They already knew who Michelle was, and her story about being a slave in the Comet Empire rang true. She just didn't give away the part that stated that Invidia still owned her.
"You've been talking with this Earth girl, I take it," said Ranklin.
"Yes, I have been," said Katrina. "Much."
"Let's see that footwear again," said a young Pellian female officer at the table known as Veli Shanktra. "Sandals? Where's your flight boots, ma'am?"
They took them," said "Katrina." Invidia was too embarrassed to admit she had been so taken with Captain Jena on her that she had forgotten quite a few things; like her boots, and her bra. However, it hit her that looking "bedraggled" actually helped her story. And, it fit in with her motive for being here on Iscandar-in the Allied Camp, in disguise. She thought, I can see it already. Dyre and Gorse might be right. They might be far better organized than we thought. If we are beaten, maybe I should return, abdicate, and depart. Or defect right here and demand asylum? Or run like rat? Or maybe just hide out someplace like famous Earthling Eichmann? Even these Pellians seem to be building up a very well-organized force. Well, at least disguised as one of them, I can spy the place out. See what is happening. That is my plan. I have the comm-unit in bag to call Jena, and I can get pickup or fly plane back and warp to his ship. But why did Trelaina help me? Not even I understand that strange woman. Why did she not just kill me? Why does she toy with me and help me? It makes no sense, not even to me.
Invidia was jolted back to reality when she said, "And the blood and DNA should check out. I am Pellian. Pellians are similar to the Terran humans."
"That we are," said Veli. Another officer, a nurse in white, brought in a slide attached to a report. "We had fragmentary personnel records on you, Miss Savela, since your detailed medical and personnel records went up with the Kasonder, I am sorry to say, but this proves to us you are one of us. The mitochrondial DNA from your mother matches one of our own Houses, so you are a noble. We just have to trace our records. It will take a while, Lieutenant. Unless you would submit to examination by Lady Aliscea or Queen Astrena?"
"Queen Astrena?" said Katrina in shock.
"Just took the title, with Desslok's advice, even though she is also the Empress of Gamilon-Garuman," said Ranklin. "It just happened last week. You would not know that."
Good, I didn't slip, thought Invidia.
Ranklin and Shanktra huddled for a moment. "Lieutenant Savela, we're not assigning you anywhere for about ten days," said Ranklin. "Your plane needs repair, and you need R & R, as is your perogative, after what you have been through as an escaped prisoner. We don't know if we're assigning you here or back aboard another space battleship yet. For now, you are assigned quarters at the Nerva Block."
"Yessir," said Katrina. "And where will Michelle go?"
They huddled again. "We will check with the Terrans to see who her surviving family is, if she has one. Until then, she can stay with you. You are now dismissed."
Katrina saluted and headed off. "Thank you, sir."
Katrina had been given a few credits of "back pay" in Pellian funds by Commander Ranklin; maybe fourteen hundred credits for the "month" she had ostensibly missed. While watching a few other Pellians, she had picked up how they saluted each other; hand to the chest in a manner similar to that used in the Comet Empire. She used the simple expedient of saluting an officer with more rank pips on their collar than her single silver one (one worn on each side of her collar).
"So where are we going?" whispered Michelle.
"Finding out where our quarters are. Then, we will rent a transport bike and ride around a bit. I'm curious."
"Why?" said Michelle. She made sure no one was around, and she whispered "Why are we here again?"
"I…want to see how things are like on this side. Personally," whispered Invidia. "No more depending upon what others tell me. I do not trust them. I see for myself."
A bright idea hit Michelle like a ton of bricks. Maybe, if I can convince her it is hopeless…play along, I can get her to give up. Stop this war. Stop this nonsense. She seems somewhere between reasonable and utterly crazy. Sane one minute, then, she was dancing around with her stick hitting things on the carrier another minute. I studied things like this in grammar school…before I got captured. Multiple personalities? Maybe Invidia is a multiple personality. Maybe I can convince her to turn herself in to a doctor. If she doesn't kill me, first. I wonder how my brother Jonathan is doing? If he is even still alive, that is. Maybe I'm the only person who survived from that ship. What am I, then? A refugee with nothing but the clothes on my back? This is depressing…
Michelle stopped and began to cry. She expected Invidia to slap her. She had hit Michelle like that before in her mood swings.
"What is wrong?" Invidia snapped.
"I…I miss my Mom," sniffed Michelle.
"Believe it or not, so do I," said Invidia in an even voice.
Michelle lookied at her with wide eyes.
"Long story," said Invidia. "Keep on walking…"
II. OLD FRIENDS, OLD ENEMIES
Planet Iscandar
New Fiji Island
Wednesday June 10, 2207: 2035 Hours Earth Space-Time
Dusk was coming in, but the breeze off the ocean was still warm as a group of five old friends walked down a street from a parked, requisitioned EDF aircar towards the Cocoanut Grove bar, which had survived the recent attacks on Iscandar unscathed.
Four of the friends were couples who had known each other for years; namely, Commodore Derek Wildstar, who wore his red and white Star Force uniform but had left his peacoat back on the ship. There was also Lieutenant Commander Nova Wildstar in her maternity Star Force uniform with her skirt and sandals, Captain Mark Venture of the Arizona, who had also left behind his peacoat and wore his Star Force Navigation Group uniform, Lieutenant Commander Holly Venture, in her regular Navigation Group uniform, and Commander Stephen Sandor, who travelled alone because Diane Henson was the OOD tonight on the Argo, again at anchor at her dock at the north end of the island.
"Hey! You're stealing my Astro Munchies," said Derek as he laughed while Nova dug her hand into his potato chip bag again.
"They're pure junk, Derek. You shouldn't eat them like that!" Nova responded.
"You can't eat just one!" laughed Derek.
"Would you two grow up?" laughed Mark Venture.
"Why? You haven't grown up yet?" said Holly.
"Mrs. Venture, I resemble that remark!" laughed Mark.
"So when are you two having kids?" said Nova.
"After the war is over," said Mark.
"Maybe," said Holly.
Sandor had been quiet, until he said, "Nothing happened to us in combat today. That carrier ran like heck when they spotted us. Venture, did any recon flights come in from the enemy?"
"The usual Washing Machine Charlie Scorpion boats showed up around 1210 today," said Venture. "The Trojans and a Gamilon squadron got the jump on them and got one and made the other one run around 1223. I was about to scramble some of the Sun Tigers when the all-clear came."
"They recovered it right when the carrier ran," said Nova. "Derek, Mark, doesn't the enemy seem really disorganized lately?"
"I ran into a Gamilon earlier," said Holly. "He told me that they have had a marked decrease of electronic chatter from the enemy, too. Wonder what that means?"
"Well, we're ready for 'em," said Derek as he grabbed some more Astro Munchies before Nova could slap his hand. "The spacecraft carrier Shiryu arrived today. She's loaded with Space Marines. They were delayed by Beemira thanks to a run-in with the R'Khells, or so I heard."
"Hear about the plane?" said Sandor.
"What plane, Steve?" said Venture as he grabbed some Astro Munchies from Derek and Nova's bag.
"The Pellian super bird," said Sandor. "They say it's an experimental flying-wing space boat that can do space warps on its own power. Its pilot got captured by the Cometines and taken right to Invidia herself, but then the pilot escaped from the City-Ship, I heard, and got clean away with the boat with warp after warp. Or so I heard. I was more interested in checking out the boat than the pilot. The Pellians told me she was getting debriefed. Sorry, but that wasn't that important. I was all over that plane for half an hour with some Pellian engineers. Trying to find out what makes it tick."
"She?" said Nova. "Typical of you men. I would have wanted to talk with the pilot; see what makes her tick! If she escaped from prison, that sounds like a romantic old war movie! I wonder how old she was?"
"Who knows that, Nova?" said Mark.
They walked into the Cocoanut Grove, and got greeted by a man who said, "Hey, guys! I got a bootleg message capsule of Arrivederci Star Force! Still in the tri-d theaters back home on Earth!"
"Thanks, but I'll wait for the legit version," said Derek.
"I heard it was a very touching movie, Derek," said Nova. "The premiere was right when we landed here on Iscandar. I did get to hear that pretty song from the end of it."
"I got to pick up the novelization," said Mark as they found a big round table not far from the billiards table. "It was sad. Weird version of the Comet Empire story," said Mark. He pointed at Derek, and said, "You died in it, Derek, at the end. So did Nova, so did Steve."
"Did you live?" said Nova. "That does sound very sad."
"I lived after I said goodbye to Derek," said Mark. "Admiral Gideon somehow became the skipper of the Argo. He died, too. So did Desslok, after he helped us."
"Sounds like a real cheerful movie," said Derek sarcastically.
"We have to see it, Derek!" cried Nova. "It sounds so sad. I'll cry on your shoulder all through it, I bet. The actress playing me kinda looks like me."
"Did I die?" said Holly.
"You weren't even in it," said Mark.
Holly slapped Mark right as the waitress robot came up. "What do you people want?" the robot said.
Derek thought a minute. "Do you have Teichmann's on tap here?"
"Yes," said the robot. "Lite, Gold, and Special."
"I don't want sake tonight," said Derek as Mark looked over. "Teichmann's Special for myself and Mark. Nova?"
"A Virgin Mary or a Bloody Shame, whatever you call it here," said Nova.
The robot blinked her eyes. "Pardon me, ma'am?"
"Bloody Mary, hold the vodka," said Nova.
"Bloody Mary, the usual, with Smirnoff's," said Sandor.
"Mud Slide for me," said Holly.
"Add a bowl of cheesy bacon chips," said Nova. "Large. I'm treating."
"Thank you," said the robot as the five friends looked around them at the vacant spaces at their table; there were four more vacant spots.
"Wonder if the Tigers are showing up tonight?" said Derek.
"Not the guys on alert," said Nova.
The music system began to play some kind of twisted pop-metal song as Derek looked up and saw a girl coming in the front door.
The sunset dazzled his eyes, but Derek noticed that the mysterious young woman looked fairly short, maybe 5' 4" or 5' 5". She wore what Derek recognized was a Pellian uniform, although he noticed her pink heels and wondered if they were regulation.
The nose looked slightly sharp, and the eyes had a hard look in them. Nova flipped around when she saw him staring, and she whispered, "Look at that nose, Derek!" she whispered. "I swear, she could be…naah…the face is a little too round, and her hair's all over the place with bangs."
"Who?" said Derek.
"Nothing, I had a crazy idea," said Nova. "She'd be really insulted if she overheard me," said Nova as the young lady's companion, a girl just a little taller in very Terran-looking civilian dress, followed her in.
The waitress robot brought their drinks and chips, and Mark said to Derek. "Hey, Derek! I need to challenge you to a game of pool!"
"You're on!" laughed Derek as he kissed Nova and said, "Feel like playing the winner?"
"I guess I could if my back doesn't start twinging again," said Nova as she gave Derek's hand a squeeze. "Watch out for mysterious dark-haired ladies in alien Allied uniforms," she teased.
"Her?" said Derek just as "Katrina's" ears perked up at that voice.
Nova gave him a playful kick under the table in the affirmative.
"Jealous," teased Derek.
Nova stuck her tongue out at him and flipped her chair around.
Then, a moment later, Nova looked at the woman. "Excuse me?" said Nova. "Can I buy you a drink?"
Invidia turned, trying to keep from glaring at the woman who had just spoken with her.
You're dead! Invidia thought in great shock. By Arishna! I remember throwing a poison dagger at you! I killed you on Melezart! But, you turn up again, smiling! How do they do that? How did they save you?
Nova's eyebrows went up as she said, "Miss, are you all right? Or is that Lieutenant?"
"Katrina" shook her head as Michelle looked on in surprise. "I am sorry, ma'am," said Katrina in a strange accent. "I have had a very hard day."
"Buy you a drink?" said Sandor pleasantly. "Are you the one who…?"
"I'd rather be by myself with my friend right now," snapped "Katrina." "Thank you, but I don't feel like talking tonight to many people."
"I'm so sorry," said Nova. "We'll respect your privacy, Lieutenant."
"Katrina" nodded and said, "Michelle, let's go sit down over there. Want a soda?"
"Sure, thanks," said Michelle.
A moment later, Nova's eyes rolled up as Bryan Hartcliffe came in with his wife Angie in tow. For once, they were on good terms, holding hands as they noticed their comrades from the Argo.
"Hey, Sandor! Hey, luv!" laughed Hartcliffe as he and Angie came up. The pilot and his recently pregnant wife in her white Flight Support uniform sat down together as Bryan said, "Wanna see if we can play tonight, Nova?"
"Most of the band isn't here," said Nova. "I don't think it's pickup night, Bryan."
Eager and Homer came in a moment later and plopped down beside the Hartcliffes.
"Who's on the bridge?" said Sandor.
"The flunkies," said Eager. "Hey, who's the weird Pellian chick over there with the beer?"
"Don't bother her, Chris," said Nova as a loud snap and click came from the pool table. A moment later, a nine-ball landed on their table. "Derek!" she yelled. "Quit playing games!"
"Hey, I messed up," said Commodore Wildstar as he ran over to retreive the pool ball. "Hey, Eager; hey Homer!"
"Am I chopped liver, sir?" said Bryan Hartcliffe.
"No, kippered beef," snapped Holly. "Nova, he's as bad as ever."
"He's mellowing," said Angie. "Some days."
"Hey! This is my impression of Invidia when we catch 'er!" said Hartcliffe. He stood up, made a 'bang' noise, and collapsed into his chair as Angie laughed while Bryan played "dead". "What do you guys think we should do to Invidia when we catch 'er and win the war?" said Bryan. "Yer know it's comin' soon!"
"Decapitate her," said Homer as he slammed down his beer. "She deserves it!"
"Torture the bitch to death with a dull knife!" yelled an EDF fighter pilot from another squadron who clapped Hartcliffe on the back.
"Perform medical experiments on her," snapped Holly. "She made us suffer, make her suffer!"
"Tear her to bits," said Angie with an evil smile.
"Burn her alive like she killed my wife and kids in New York," said an impassioned Space Marine as he banged a fist on the table. "Rotten mass-murdering whore!"
"Capital punishment!" yelled some Gamilon in brown battle armor who came up and laid his hands on Angie's shoulders.
"Life imprisonment without trial!" yelled some other Gamilon, an officer in green and black. "Commander Sandor! What does this Pellian girl think? The little minxette, she is awfully quiet and she doesn't look well" he said as he pointed right at Invidia and she jumped while one of the officer's compatriots laughed and pulled his combat dagger out of its place on the breastplate of his chest armor.
Invidia tensed and turned white with her hands gripping the table, while thinking, They found out! Damn you, Trelaina! What a miserable trick! expecting the bald Gamilon to run over and put the knife in her back any minute. Instead, he just laughed, licked his knife lasciviously while Nova gave him a very dirty look, and then he nodded mockingly to Nova and put away his dagger.
"She's not feeling well," said Angie. "Leave her alone. Eager? What do we do to Invidia?" she said with a smile.
"Put her in a rodeo ring naked with a steer," said Eager as, not far away, unknown to any of them, the subject of their conversation sat there un-noticed trying to keep from screaming.
"Wait!" cried Nova. "She should get a trial, first! Right?"
Some people booed Nova when they heard her suggestion.
"Why?" said Homer. "She's as bad as Hitler. Maybe worse."
"But they gave the Nazis trials when they caught them," insisted Nova. "Even Eichmann, who had the blood of thousands on his rotten conscience!"
"When ya get a varmint, ya kill it," said Eager.
"But if we did that, we'd be as bad as they are!" cried Nova as she got up and pointed at Eager. "I don't know if any woman could really be that heartless. Maybe they're making her do those things? Sounds crazy, but I'm all confused…part of being pregnant, you can all laugh at me…" said Nova as she tried to keep from crying.
"She tried to kill ya!" said Eager as Derek came over and put his hands on her shoulders.
"Nova has something Invidia doesn't have," said Derek.
"What?" said Homer.
"A heart."
Not far away, Katrina squeezed Michelle's hand hard as she put her face on the table and began to cry
This is my trial, thought Invidia. No. This is worse than trial! You try to run things efficiently, and what do they do? You try to get proper revenge and punish and what do they do? They hate you! I hate them! What became of me? I was not like that when I was very small. What happened?
And, as the people in the bar partied and laughed and more people began yelling out what they wanted to do to Invidia, "Katrina" shut her eyes and took off, holding Michelle by the hand as they ran out.
"Katrina" ran and ran until she and Michelle found some grassy hills far from the city. Hills where there were quite a number of stones that resembled cats to Michelle.
There, Invidia looked up at Gamilon, screamed, and abruptly threw herself onto the grassy ground, crying with utter rage as she pounded her fists into the ground.
"Invidia?" whispered Michelle.
Invidia hissed at Michelle and slapped her hard across the face, screaming, "DO NOT CALL ME BY THAT NAME ON THIS WORLD! YOU KNOW NOT WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING!"
"Yes, Katrina," sobbed Michelle as she tried to comfort her by putting her arms around her, only to be roughly pushed away.
"I do not want to live," hissed Katrina. "Kill me, Michelle. Take my life!"
"What?" whispered Michelle.
Katrina cried and screamed, and then she lashed out at Michelle again, slapping her across the face three times as she said, "My life, it is OVER! Kill me!"
"I'm not going to be a party to suicide or murder!" said Michelle. "Not now that I just came to know you!"
"What?" said Katrina.
"I care for you," said Michelle.
"Why?" snapped Katrina.
"You rescued me. You've treated me decently for the first time in years. You care for me. You…"
"I," said Invidia. "I am a monster who has made common cause all too many times with something from the Seven Hells. My father. My own ambitions. Ekogaru. I wanted to win, I wanted to rule, but now I find us in a position where I must kill or be killed. Utterly. Until you tease the animal and it bites you back, you never know what it is like. They hate me and maybe the hate is right and justified! But part of me wants to lash out. Part of me wants to give up. And if I give up, I must die. By my own hand, thank you! They will never take me alive or execute me, and when it comes down to it, I fear dying in battle. I fear the Dark. I fear seeing that blackness and those clouds and that stuff like fire again upon the Other Side! I want to take my life by my own hand! Or the hand of someone I trust. I want to commit what you call seppuku and I want you as my second," she snapped. "Find me a good weapon. Then, I die. Maybe offering myself to the goddess Arishna in sacrifice and blood will redeem my soul. I want to be my own Saviour. My own sacrifice. Then I want to hang somewhere until my own bowels gush out and the carrion birds eat away my face and leave a skull and filthy skin-rags! Thirty pieces of silver indeed!"
"No, you do not!" said Michelle. She's gone mad, she thought. She has finally gone utterly mad!
"Yes, I do!" screamed Invidia as she put her face in the grass and began to laugh as if she was going completey mad.
Michelle then hugged her and said, "Katrina, there must be some way for you to get out of this without suicide. Maybe…if you went to see Queen Starsha…"
"What?" said Katrina.
"Starsha is supposed to be very peaceful," said Michelle. "Maybe if you two could speak…you could arrange something and end this terrible war…"
"I considered that," said Katrina. "But, they would jail me."
"Wouldn't it be worth it to stop millions of people from dying?" said Michelle.
"Perhaps," said Katrina as she sat up and sat there with her head in her hands…
Later, back on the Argo, Nova and Dawn found they had been summoned to Nova's inquiry, which was to be held in Doctor Sane's office that evening.
Sane, all business, sat behind a desk with the Cleveland twins to each side. A digital tape recorder was going as he said, "Informal Medical Malfeasance Inquiry under Regulation 113(g) begins. Being taped for informal purposes. Accused nurses are Wildstar, Nova D, Lieutenant Commander, and Hardy, Dawn, Ensign. You are to describe the events of 6 June 2207 to us that led to the loss of a Schedule Y research cabinet key and the unintentional release of some Titan Mushroom extract into unauthorized hands, causing minor intoxication of two officers. You are under informal oath. Wildstar, begin…"
"Yessir," Nova said with her head bowed. Nova described what had happened in Sickbay that day, including Dawn's behavior, that had caused Nova to get wet, and to have to change. Nova then took full blame for what had happened. She ended by saying, "Doctor Sane, she should be allowed to leave this room with no sanctions at all," as Dawn's eyes widened with surprise.
She'd go to bat for me? Dawn thought with tears in her eyes.
"Not permitted," said Doctor Sane. "But thank you, Nova. We still need to hear from her."
"Yessir," said Dawn as she recited what had happened herself. She took blame for not reminding Nova her key had been in her wet pocket. She said, "If I had done that to back up my superior officer, sir, none of this would have happened."
Tasha Cleveland wrote that down and whispered something in Sane's ear. Sane nodded, writing on a pad. Then he said, "As Commanding Officer of this Sickbay, I have made my decision. I have decided that there was no intentional malfeasance committed on the parts of either Mrs. Wildstar or Mrs. Hardy. Only heat-of-the-moment carelessness. Mrs. Wildstar will be permitted to retain all of her duties as Head Nurse except that she must surrender to my possession said cabinet key for thirty days."
"Yessir," said Nova.
"As that was done two days ago by you on a voluntary basis, you will only be prohibited unfettered access to the cabinet for twenty-eight days, at which time the notation of this event comes out of your jacket. A letter describing the circumstances and disposition of this event is also being sent to the Admissions and Scholarship Committee of Central Federal Medical School in the Tokyo Megalopolis. Extenuating circumstances are being included in the letter, and I am also appealing for the Lieutenant Commander's retention as a medical student. The letter is being addressed to Doctor Kitara, head of the Admissions and Scholarship Committee. Beyond that, this matter is now closed for the Lieutenant Commander."
"Yessir," said Nova, as she wondered if she would still be in Medical School after this minor mistake.
"Hardy, Dawn," said Doctor Sane. "You will likewise serve the same probationary period as Lieutenant Commander Wildstar. I have asked you to turn over your cabinet key, which you have done. Your cabinet access is suspended for thirty days. Letter remains in your jacket for thirty days. This matter is closed for you, Ensign. These proceedings are terminated."
"Yessir," said Nova and Dawn together.
"Off the record," said Sane. "If the Wakefields had not been found intoxicated, this would have been handled entirely informally. Meaning I'd bitch you two out and say don't let it happen again. However, regs caused me to have to be a bit harsh on you two. It could have been a lot worse. Nova, between you and me, don't worry about Kitara. I e-mailed him informally today, and he already responded."
"Sir?" said Nova with tears in her eyes.
"You won't have your admission to Med School revoked. I did stupid things myself years ago and I was once in the same spot as you. I also called in some favors. I won't guarantee that you'll still have your full Honors Scholarship, though. They may pull that and kick you out of the Accelerated Honors Program, though. Which means you'd have to do eight semesters and not just seven."
"Yessir," sighed Nova. "Thanks, Doctor Sane…"
"You're my best nurse. The best I've ever worked with in thirty years," said Sane. "Just be sure you keep it that way. And, Hardy, keep your nose clean, too. Now, get out of here! You two have work to do."
Nova and Dawn saluted and left.
III. REACTIONS TO INVIDIA AND A BALL…
The Eritz Gatlantis
At the Edge of the Great Magellenic Cloud
Thursday June 11, 2207: 0930 Hours Earth Space-Time
0930 Hours…
"Gorse, this is insanity," whispered General Dyre as he and Gorse met in secret in a corridor of the New Comet City. "She has truly gone mad."
"In her note, she ran off to Iscandar," said Gorse as he looked over the message padd Invidia had left behind. "She took a Captain, a single carrier, and one slave with her. And she is walking around in some disguise right in the enemy camp? Is she looking to pull off some weird peace?"
"If so, maybe that solves our problems," snorted Dyre.
"Or, is she looking to defect? To kill herself? To surrender? We cannot trust her now, Dyre!" snapped Gorse. "Zordar's rule! She has been exposed to the enemy now and its mindset. I do not think it would be wise to allow her to return to us! Ever! It is not like the conference was, when we still worked from our traditions and were the conquerers. Now, she knows how they might think. This can be danegrous. And what if she signs some protocol and surrenders us and this ship?"
"If she is surrendering us, we had better be prepared to run back to Andromeda," said Dyre. "I will not allow this facility to be captured. But, her and her SS…"
Gorse bowed his head. "General Lavnar, dead. General Degar, dead. General Turpitz, dead and decapitated," muttered Gorse. "Numbers Five, Four, and Three of the General Staff…killed on Invidia's orders. And Invidia went so mad that she destroyed her own suite? This is very dangerous for us. Invidia is now acting worse than Zordar ever acted on his bad days. I am Number Two on the General Staff, Dyre. You are Number One below the Princess herself. We are obviously next if she goes mad again. She has become an utter madwoman now. Unless she forces it by returning with major forces, we cannot let her back aboard this city alive. As far as I am concerned, she has effectively abdicated by running off and going…crazy…"
"How do we get out of this territorial space?" said Dyre. "You know that we are only a few steps away from elements of the Gamilon Fleet now. If they find us, they attack themselves with one of those proton missiles, or…send Radnar after us. I do not know what is worse."
"I think we should stop it now," said Gorse. "Leave Invidia stranded wherever she is on her crazy mission, and just begin warping out of here. We contact Skaldart and have him guard our rear and perhaps we can go to the Black Fox Nebula and secure it. This war is over. Unless Skaldart has a new trick up his ugly red-robed cyborg sleeve, that is."
"Maybe we should contact Desslok first and request a cease-fire, maybe…so we can escape…" said Dyre. "It galls me to consider that, but…"
"But what if the SS gets wind of this? Invidia has left orders with them, I am sure," said Gorse. "How long do we live?"
"The thought of running myself…" said Dyre. "Has occurred to me." Dyre stood in thought. "Let us see if we can secure ourselves against the SS. Then, we will see about sending Desslok a message."
"So, here it ends?" said Gorse.
Dyre nodded. "Shake my hand, Gorse. We end this war of Invidia's today. The only question is..how…"
The two generals shook hands. They had made their bargain.
1800 Hours…
In the meantime, in Mother Town, Sasha was emerging slowly from a warm bath in the hot-spring bathing areas below the Royal Palace of Iscandar.
"How does my skin look?" she said as she came up from the hot water.
"Beautiful," said Queen Starsha as she shook water out of her own hair and embraced her daughter.
Not far away, Nova Wildstar smiled, came up out of the water, and produced a towel for Sasha, wrapping her niece's wet body up in the towel as she began to rub down her back and dry her hair.
The ball celebrating Deke and Sasha's marriage was just getting started, and Starsha and Nova herself were acting as Sasha's bridesmaids and servants to help prepare her for her appearance before Deke and everyone else to celebrate their marriage.
While Nova got Sasha ready, Starsha put a towel modestly over herself and she lay back and enjoyed the hot water for a few more minutes while her daughter giggled and began splashing water on Nova. Starsha smiled, watching her sister-in-law and daughter screaming and playing at the far end of the bath.
Nova giggled back, "Would you stop that?" and then she splashed more water at Sasha.
You two get along great together, thought Starsha serenely as Sasha and Nova degenerated for a moment into a playful water fight that looked cute but ridiculous.
"Wet all over again, aren't you?" said Starsha softly.
"She started it!" giggled Sasha.
"No, you did!" chuckled Nova. "Queen Starsha, she is such a handful!"
"I know that," said Starsha. "She was kicking me very hard in the stomach when I was carrying her."
"Just like these two," giggled Nova as she bent over and felt a good kick in her naked tummy. "Well, let's get you dry and ready, okay, Sasha?"
"Okay," Sasha replied.
It took a few minutes, but Sasha blushed as her mother and aunt got her ready. Soon, she was dressed in a clingy light white gown similar to the sort she had worn at her actual wedding ceremony with Deke, with no shoes. Nova put on a light purple gown and sandals that made her somewhat resemble both her late Aunt Astra and Sasha's older sister. Starsha herself dressed in her usual blue gown and white silken slippers.
A few minutes later, Sasha, feeling more like a Princess than ever that night, was escorted up into the Palace ballroom by Nova and her mother, who publicly led her to Deke and caused her to hold hands with him before everyone.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Alliance, men and women of Iscandar, Earth, Gamilon, and Pellias," said Queen Starsha as Alex came up beside her while Derek came up and held hands with Nova. "I present to you my daughter, Princess Sasha, styled now as Sasha Wakefield, Ensign in the Earth Defense Forces, serving on special assignment with her husband, Lieutenant Deke Wakefield. Both of them have been granted due Iscandarian rank and honours, and it is my hope that their union shall endure as long as they both shall live. I extend my blessing upon them in public, and hope for both their happiness…and for many children…"
Sasha blushed and curled her toes on Deke's boot as he held her close and gave her a kiss while the others applauded. "I'm a little scared of being pregnant," she whispered as she looked over at her Aunt Nova who was nearby.
"It's not that bad," said Deke, trying to reassure her.
"I'd prefer not to have children…until…after this war is over," said Sasha. "When we do, Deke, they'll belong to both Iscandar, and Earth."
Deke kissed her as Starsha continued.
"Now, we shall make merry tonight," said queen Starsha. "My hope, my belief, is that our worlds will soon make it through this crisis victorious, and that we shall enjoy many, many years of quiet and peace."
The group applauded again as everyone cleared out for Deke and Sasha to share a dance.
The musical tune "Iscandar" began to play in the ballroom as the two of them twirled and danced all alone, sharing their joy together for many, many minutes in each other's arms. It was a happy time, a blessed time, a magical moment.
When they were done dancing, everyone applauded as Starsha and Alex and Derek and Nova were the first to get up to dance together with the newlyweds.
As they danced, Deke and Sasha held each other again, with Deke smiling at and Sasha waving at her mother, father, and aunt and uncle as they danced in happiness, just the six of them.
As the second song nearly ended, Deke looked over at Bangs dancing with Brew as another song began and Dawn and Jeff joined them on the dance floor with the other couples. A third song began as Deke looked over at Sasha and whispered, "Sasha…look at Bangs. She's with…Brew? I…I never saw this coming."
"I did," said Sasha sweetly.
"You did?"
"For days," said Sasha as Deke couldn't believe his eyes while Bangs, very pretty in a yellow Iscandarian-style gown and sandals, danced with Brew, who grinned slightly in his Black Tiger uniform and peacoat as he danced with one hand protectively on Gabrielle "Bangs" Capistrano's bottom. Deke, as if noticing for the first time, noticed that Bangs had a particularly nice…bottom. Only Sasha's, Starsha's and Nova's posteriors matched the shapeliness of hers.
"Why didn't ya say anything?" asked Deke.
"I'm too interested in you," said Sasha. "That was a sweet night we had last night in our room for the first time. Our first home together…the Argo."
"I barely slept," said Deke with a wink.
"Same here," said Sasha.
They finished dancing, and, a little later on, they found that they were expected to stand at the front of a line and greet the guests together. Most of the greetings were very pleasant; with the guests there to wish them good luck. Deke got a handshake and a hearty hug from his father-in-law, and a chaste kiss from his mother-in-law, which made him blush a little. Sasha also received hugs and kisses from her parents. Commodore Wildstar was next, greeting Deke with a big bear hug and a husky whisper of, "Hey, Wakefield…you're one lucky guy!"
"Thank you, sir," said Deke as Derek then hugged and gently kissed his niece. There was no jealousy, though, because Nova gave Deke a hug and a kiss at the same time. She smiled at Deke and said, "You're…my nephew, but I feel like you're almost a little brother to me, Deke. I'm so happy to see you and Sasha together at last. You've waited for so long. I knew it'd happen!"
"Can you see the future, Auntie?" said Sasha.
"No, just good old intuition," said Nova with a laugh as she hugged Sasha. "Keep him out of trouble, you hear me? And keep yourself out of trouble. I don't know what we'd do if anything ever happened to you."
"Auntie, don't talk like that!" said Sasha.
"It's wartime. All sorts of…things…could happen," said Nova as Derek put an arm around her waist. She put Deke's and Sasha's hands together and said, "You two…keep a watch out for each other. And don't do anything stupid! Got that?"
Deke and Sasha nodded.
To Deke's surprise, Steve Sandor and Diane Henson were next, giving good wishes. Steve talked to Sasha for a long time; it appeared to Deke that there was a lot of history between the two of them that he never knew about; it seemed that Sandor had been a mentor to Sasha in one way or another over many years. "I looked out for you when your Dad couldn't be there for you, or your Uncle. I swore an oath to all of them nothing would ever happen to you. It's your job to protect her now, Wakefield. Be careful. She has a knack…for getting into all sorts of things," said Sandor as Sasha blushed.
"I think I know that, sir," said Wakefield.
"Good luck…"
They stood greeting lots of people they didn't know for maybe forty-five minutes, but got back on familiar turf when Mark and Holly Venture, Dr. Bradford, Dr. Sane, Eager, Homer, Yamazaki, Domon, and Cory Conroy offered their good wishes. Then, there were many others, officers and dignitaries from Pellias, other EDF ships, and the Iscandarian forces and others on Iscandar who were ministers who advised Queen Starsha. A few Gamilons greeted them, starting with General Talan, who was almost curt with them as he saluted, shook their hands, and wished them good luck before leaving in a hurry with his staff after apologizing and stating that Leader Desslok could not be there tonight but sent his good wishes and good luck. Next, Aliscea Rosstowski and Paul Rosstowski gave their good wishes, followed by a Gamilon officer named Fraken who was very formal with Sasha. It was just when he was leaving that Deke realized that the tall, charming Gamilon was the one who had once briefly dated Sasha. Deke growled to himself and felt very envious.
However, Sasha had her chance to turn green when the Hardys showed up. Jeff was very courtly and polite with both of them, extending lots of good wishes. Dawn spoke quickly with Sasha, wishing her good luck, and then she held hands with Deke and said, "So this is life on the other side of the fence, Deke. Honors? Medals? Royal balls. Long way from the Rancho Carne Mustangs and the drum corps and A.P.E., huh?"
"Yeah, it's a long way," sighed Deke, not comfortable with this reminder.
"What's A-P-E?" said Sasha. "Is it a club where you dressed up like simians?" she said in an innocent voice.
Dawn laughed. "Sasha, A-P-E stands for American Percussion Enterprises. It was what we called the drum line in high school marching band. Do you know what a marching band is?"
"I am familiar with the concept," said Sasha. "Deke has taught me something of it when he bangs and bangs and bangs with his drumsticks."
"I bet he does," laughed Dawn as a tear came to her eyes. "Wait? Don't you play an instrument?"
"Yes. Saxophone," said Sasha. "I am pretty good at it. I think I shall demonstrate later with the band," she said. "Nova wanted Deke and I up with her and Rosstowski and Hartcliffe to play at least one song together…"
"That'd be fun!" laughed Dawn. Let's see if she really can play, she thought.
"Ready to tune up, yet, luv?" asked Bryan Hartcliffe as he came up with Angie.
"We'll be ready soon," said Deke stiffly. "We just have a few more people to meet and greet, then we can get something to drink."
"Drink. I like that part," said Bryan.
"Not too much!" said Angie.
"I'm fine," said Bryan as he gave them a cockeyed salute.
Finally, two Gamilons came up at the end of the line. A third man, an EDF Space Marine, stood with them, just a little behind them. They whispered and muttered to each other and then the Gamilons came up together.
Sasha's eyes narrowed as soon as she recognized them. "Deke, let's go away."
"Sasha?"
"Those men are not permitted on Iscandar. I'm telling Mother!" she snapped.
Sasha was about to turn away on the balls of her feet when she and Deke found themselves hemmed in against the table.
One of them was a large Gamilon in brown battle armor with an ugly face.
"I am Haratz," said the Gamilon as he mockingly extended a hand towards Deke. "We have met before, you and I, Earthling," he hissed in a vile-sounding voice. Deke could smell the stink of some heavy alcohol on his breath. "I see you keep interesting company, Earther! A pilot and a Princess. How amusing."
"I don't find you amusing at all," said Deke.
"Too bad," said the other Gamilon, as he smiled. "The Baron Harmen Rizak Von Delvitz, Wakefield! At your service and your family's," he said mockingly. "We had a little discussion a while ago, Wakefield."
"I remember it," said Deke. "I also remember I kicked your rotten blue butt back to Gamilon. It really belongs there, jackass. Especially tonight."
"Awwwww," said another voice behind them as Deke bared his teeth at the sound of it. Stovall, he thought to himself. You shit! "Is the mighty Baron upsetting poor little shitty diarrhea plebe Wakefield? Pop off, Wakefield!"
"Listen, you rotten, lousy miserable…" began Deke as he turned towards Stovall. Instead, Delvitz put an unwanted hand on him and stopped him.
Deke then noticed that Von Delvitz was standing between him and Sasha.
"You have no right to be within twelve megameters of that woman," hissed Deke. "Get away from my wife, my Princess. NOW."
"Ahh, yes," said Von Delvitz. "How amusing, Haratz! A mongrel Princess, and a stupid Earthling barbarian. Do you know that you married a slut, Wakefield?"
"I never wanted to be near you!" hissed Sasha.
Von Delvitz spun around and put his gloved hands on Sasha's lightly clad shoulders as he grinned evilly. "You screamed when I gave it to you, Sasha," he said with drink coming off his breath so much that his very breath repelled Sasha. "You. The Princess. And the surfer. A slutty Princess, and a surf bum," he said as he began to put his arms around Sasha. "What a slut you are, Sasha of Iscandar!"
Sasha showed her spunk by wheeling around and grabbing a drink and throwing it in the Baron's face. "BASTARD!" she cried. "As a Royal Princess, I command you to leave this Palace and to leave Iscandar at once! And to never return again! My consort and I hope you die in the next battle you get into! No great loss!" For a fleeting moment, she wanted to put out her hands and lash out with her mind; just to see what would happen to this piece of crap.
"She has spunk," laughed Haratz as the party stopped and everyone looked at the scene as an uneasy murmur filled the ballroom.
"Is she a better lay than Dawn was?" mocked Stovall in an unnaturally deep voice as he grinned at Wakefield. Sasha shrunk back, feeling a weird sensation of cold and death coming from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Deke wasn't sure which one he hated worse; Stovall or the Baron. He was about to start a fight by kicking at Haratz when the ugly Gamilon gorilla stepped aside just as Von Delvitz came up and removed his glove.
"This makes it easy, asshole," snapped Deke. "Sasha, take my coat. I'm going for him first…calling you a…"
Deke was then blindsided as a heavy Gamilon gauntlet caught him in the side of the head.
Deke looked over and saw Von Delvitz snarling at him. "No mere Earthman calls a Gamilon Baron an asshole in public! I call you out, Wakefield! If you are man enough, we shall duel to the death on Gamilon tomorrow! At sunrise! The winner gets the Princess! Do you accept?"
"Damn straight I do," snapped Deke as Sasha tried to pull him away.
"Name your weapon," snapped Von Delvitz.
"Rapier and Main Gauche! If you even know what those weapons are, you blue worm!"
"Oh, I know," said Von Delvitz. "How do you think I got this scar. So you will take your death like a man. Good. Wonderful."
Von Delvitz stepped back and spat a big wad of phlegm right onto Sasha's bare toes. "I hope you like it in my bed, Iscandarian whore! Because that is where you will end up tomorrow night! As my property!"
Before anyone could react, Von Delvitz, Haratz, and Stovall all left together, laughing acid laughs as they stomped out of the hall together.
"You…rotten piece of," hissed Deke as he went for his sidearm.
"Deke!" said Sasha as she cried. "Not here! Mother wants no blood shed on Iscandar!"
"I wish she'd throw that scum in jail," said Deke.
"He's already left," said Nova as she came up with fire in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. Deke, you don't have to go through with this. Ignore him! He's just…"
"I'm not ignoring him, Nova," said Deke.
"Don't leave me a widow, Deeekeee!" sobbed Sasha.
"No, I won't leave you a widow," said Deke as he kissed Sasha. "Because he's the one who's gonna die. Now sit down over there while I brush your hair and wipe your feet clean. We're going to have a last dance, then leave. I have some sword practice to do. Brew?" he yelled.
"I heard, Sticks," said Brew. "Saber Practice?"
Deke nodded while he comforted Sasha and wiped Delvitz's spit off her feet.
"You'll need me, too," said Aliscea as she came up.
"You?" said Sasha.
"I know how those Gamilons fight," snapped Aliscea. "I am good with a sword. I will show him their filthy, dirty duelling tactics. I want him to live…just as much as you do."
"Thanks," said Sasha as she put her face in her hands and began to sob.
An hour later, on Gamilon, Talan stood at attention before Leader Desslok in his huge office.
"Why did you let it happen, Talan?"
"Leader Desslok, you said that you needed me here as quickly as possible and that the staff meeting was of greater precedence than the ball…you said…"
"I do not care what I said!" barked Desslok. "Your job down there was to watch our men or to appoint someone trustworthy like Keeling or Fraken to do so! Why was that Baron not arrested at once by our forces when he insulted Sasha and our Earthling friend?"
"It happened so quickly, sire," said Talan. "I…"
"I know. I questioned Henglin and Egantz about it. They were the next highest-ranking men there after Fraken," snapped Desslok. "Those men are now dead," he said as he slammed his blaster on the table. "Fraken had the good excuse verified by Iscandarian security cameras that he was indisposed in the men's lounge," snapped Desslok. "Otherwise, he would be dead too."
"So let us find Von Delvitz and execute him, too. And that Haratz. An easy operation, sire…"
"No, honor has to be defended," hissed Desslok. "Not their honor. The Earthling's honor. And Iscandar's honor."
"Sir?"
"He is our champion, like it or not. Maybe I should be his second," mused Desslok.
Talan shook his head. "This message came in from the Lady Aliscea…your step-daughter. He has already named two seconds. A Lieutenant Jere Marrable, another pilot of his. And Nova."
"Hmm?" said Desslok. "She should not be witnessing duels in her condition."
"I am told she insisted upon coming with Marrable and Princess Sasha," said Talan. "Sir, will you still be there?"
Desslok nodded. "Yes. But in disguise. It may be better that way. I will be there. At dawn. We know the place."
Talan nodded. "Yes, Leader Desslok. The Ancient Palisades. Outside of the city."
"The Palisades," said Desslok. "Almost all that remains of the original surface of Old Gamilon. Sacred Ground. Near green stone cliffs. There is where they will fight. I wish them success."
"Sir?" said Talan.
"Wakefield, of course. I have no love for Von Delvitz."
"Yessir," said Talan.
IV. FROM HEAVEN TO HELL…
Space Battleship Argo Medical Shuttle #21107
Approaching Planet Gamilon
Friday June 12, 2207: 0430 Hours Earth Space-Time
"Gamilon," muttered Deke Wakefield as he helped Brew fly Medical Shuttle #21107 to Gamilon. "What a forbidding place. Even after it got remade."
"I see a few oceans on it, but they look dark and depressing against all that damn green," said Brew as they approached the mostly-darkened planet. Gamilstadt and its environs were currently on its nightside, but they could see Desslok's Capital City illuminated against the night before them like many thousands of little points of light. "Down there looks like the Megalopolis from space at night. Or old New York City before the Comet Empire got it. I can't believe Invidia wiped out the second-biggest city on Earth, Dekesticks."
A curt voice came over the speakers. "Earth Shuttle. Identify yourself!"
Brew took over. "Gamilon Imperial Approach Control, this is EDF Shuttle #21107 from SBB-01. Heading for Spacecraft Field X-223 as arranged. Over."
"Over. Your approach is acknowledged, shuttle. Do not deviate from your course. A car is waiting for your party. Acknowledge."
"Roger," said Deke into his lip mike. Both he and Brew wore full flight gear and their black and gold Flight Group uniforms with flight jackets.
"Welcome to Gamilon, Lieutenant Wakefield," said the cold voice. "We only wish you were coming here under better circumstances. We wish you luck today."
"Over," said Deke in a flat voice as he played with a combat knife. The weapons for the duel were waiting below on Gamilon. Deke shut off the radio and yawned slightly. "Think we practiced enough, Brew?"
"I think so," said Brew. "I tried to give you the best workout I could on that beach by starlight."
"Aliscea did an even better job," said Deke. He shook his head at the memory of the vicious rehearsal sword-fight with boken turned kickfest that Aliscea had subjected him to as preparation for this fight. "Aliscea turned on me like a wildcat. I think I've got bruises on top of bruises from where she kicked me."
"Hard to believe a thin little girl in a black mini and sandals can beat you up like that," said Brew.
Sasha came forward a moment later, followed by Nova. They were the only other passengers in the shuttle. Sasha wore her regular Midshipman blues again, while Nova wore a male-patterened Living Group uniform in gold and black with flight boots to accommodate her ankles. Deke looked back at them in concern. "You two get any sleep?"
"No," said Sasha as she hugged Deke from behind.
Nova also came up and patted his hand. "Deke, Queen Starsha said you could still pull out if you wanted. You have Iscandarian rank. You can claim diplomatic…"
"Hell no," said Deke. "I'm sorry, Nova, but I don't know if you heard all the things he called Sasha…"
"I heard enough," she sighed. Then, Nova got a thermos. "Have some more, please."
"Your coffee?" teased Brew. "Tryin' to kill him before the duel?"
"I think I could use this," said Deke as he drank some of the coffee. "Thanks, Nova. You don't have to come, you know. You can stay in the shuttle and catch some shut-eye."
"I've been up all night; what does it matter?" sighed Nova. "You should have heard Derek ranking out Desslok on the phone before. For not being there to stop Von Delvitz."
"Glad someone cares," said Deke. "What did His Blueness say?"
"Not much, Derek said," said Nova as Sasha quietly hugged him from behind. "He knows he was wrong."
"Yeah. Like he knew he was wrong when he bombed Earth and killed my family," snapped Deke. "I see that no one has seen Stovall since the ball?"
Sasha shook her head. "There's something very evil about that man, Deke."
"No shit," muttered Deke.
"Some aura around him like Death," said Sasha with a shiver. "If I didn't know better, I'd suspect…"
Some thought came to Nova. "What Melvin said on Balan? That can't be it, can it?"
"Can't be what?" said Sasha.
A moment later, the radio blared again. "This is the Argo," said Homer. "Are you there yet?"
"Yeah, I'm almost there. Landing in four minutes," said Wakefield as he began to throttle down for landing.
"Commodore Wildstar just wanted to say that all the guys wish you luck, Wakefield," said Homer.
"Thanks," said Deke.
"Even Dawn tried to talk you out of this," said Nova. "Are you sure…?"
"I'm sure," said Deke. "I'm sorry, both of you," said Deke.
"Then I'll stand by your side with Toad," said Nova with a ghost of a smile. "Long way from Boulder, isn't it, Brew?" sighed Nova.
"Yeah, a damn long way," replied Brew.
"If you don't win…" said Sasha with tears in her eyes.
"Sasha, don't talk like that," said Deke.
"If you don't wiin," said Sasha as tears ran down her cheeks. "I'll call him out myself. So I can avenge you," she said.
"Sasha, don't…"
"Only I can't guarantee I'd use a sword," she said as she began to cry.
Deke got up and held Sasha as they landed, ignoring all precautions, because he just needed to comfort his mate.
The Ancient Palisades were a green stone field of battle on the outskirts of Gamilstadt built as a court on some bleak-looking volcanic ground. Desslok's city loomed in the background, with a series of cliffs in the foreground. The cliffs rose up as the foothills of a distant mountain range that was topped with a now-quiescent active volcano that seemed to be smoking just a little in the distance. A few assorted ruined mushroom-towered buildings stood nearby.
In the Gamilon staff-limo they rode in, Deke and his mate and friends spoke silently behind the partition that separated them from the driver.
"Nice place," muttered Brew.
"There's nicer places on Gamilon, but this isn't one of them," said Nova. "Much of this planet, granted, I find cold and depressing. Like London…or Berlin…on a foggy day. I like the sun on my face, a warm gentle breeze in my hair and on my legs, and a blue sky…not a green one…and flowers are hard to find here."
"Gamilon. The place you don't wanna visit; and I sure wouldn't wanna live here," said Deke.
Sasha remained silent, filled with unshed tears and rage. Soon, the dark-green Gamilon staff-limo pulled up in the dim pre-dawn light, disgorging Deke, Brew, Nova, and Sasha.
Many other Gamilons, and some Terrans and Pellians, stood there as another car disgorged Von Delvitz, Haratz, and some Gamilon that Deke didn't recognize.
Talan stood there, along with two other figures; a staff officer in grey who held a large dark-green metallic case, and a silent, very tall and forboding figure in a black full-length cloak and hood. He did not speak, and no one could see his face.
"We'll be right behind you, Deke," said Brew. Deke nodded, kissed Sasha, and accepted a squeeze from Nova's hand. The two figures in black and one figure in yellow strode forward to confront Von Delvitz in green and black and his two seconds in their brown battle armor.
Talan stood between them with the staff officer and the silent figure in black. Von Delvitz looked at the figure and jumped a little; Deke didn't know why. The silent figure acknowledged his presence with a nod of his hidden head.
Talan then spoke. "Under the ancient rules and observances, Baron Harmen Rizak Von Delvitz of Gamilon, seconded by Captain Haratz and Commander Daga, has called out Lieutenant Deke Wakefield of Terra, seconded by Lieutenant Jere Marrable and Lieutenant Commander Nova Wildstar, to a duel to the death because he feels Wakefield has violated his personal honor. Wakefield, do you accept his challenge?"
"I do," said Deke.
"Your chosen weapons are duelling rapiers and parrying daggers. Leftenant Pala, the weapons, please."
The staff officer opened the box. It was lined with dark green fitted velvet like an instrument case, and the matching silvery weapons glittered in the lights from the city. They were beautiful. Talan handed the weapons silently to Haratz with no comment, while the silent black-clad figure handed the other set to Brew and Nova.
Who is this creep? Deke thought as he beheld the silent figure. Talan turned away, saying nothing further to Wakefield or Von Delvitz as Haratz gave Von Delvitz his weapons.
A silent Brew and Nova handed the rapier and main gauche dagger to Deke. Before the silent figure turned away, white-gloved hands came forth from the cloak and clasped Wakefield's. Then, a quiet voice spoke into Deke's ear.
"Wakefield," said the dulcet voice in a whisper that chilled and surprised Deke. "I wish you success…he has violated my honor."
"I…uh…"
"I am in disguise," purred Desslok in Wakefield's ear. "Don't let them know I favor you. Kill him for us. He is a blight to our race and I apologize to you and Sasha for the insult. Send my good wishes to Starsha."
Deke nodded at him while Nova helped him out of his flight jacket and tossed it to Brew.
A moment later, after a few whispered words of encouragement, Nova and Brew stood back. Von Delvitz's seconds also left him alone.
Sanzar was beginning to come up when Talan came between them, nodded, and said, "About face. Five paces. Then turn and face each other. Then begin."
The antagonists paced, turned, and saluted with their rapiers.
After the salute, Von Delvitz ran at Deke first with a howling, feral growl that sounded more vulpine than human.
Deke greeted him with a snarl and a clash of metal as he parried the first rapier attack with his main gauche. Then, he swung out with his rapier, scoring first blood as he scratched Von Delvitz's face.
"Scum," hissed Von Delvitz.
"You'll be calling me worse when we're done, Gamilon," hissed Deke.
"How dare you insult my heritage?" snapped Von Delvitz as he lashed out animalistically with his main gauche. It scratched Deke's upper arm, leaving warm blood running down his bicep under his uniform.
Deke wheeled about and knocked the Baron's main gauche out of his left hand with a fiery strength the Gamilon had not expected. As it clattered on the ground, Von Delvitz grinned and said, "Impressive, Earther. Very impressive. But not enough!"
Von Delvitz swung a booted foot up and knocked Deke's main gauche away with a vicious kick. Deke jumped back to avoid a drop-kick to his crotch as he faced the Gamilon with crossed rapiers. Deke looked over, hearing sobs as Sasha cried, being consoled by a fearful-looking Nova on the sidelines.
"Prepared to die yet, you stinking peasant?" hissed Von Delvitz as they clashed again.
"Not on Government time, buddy," said Wakefield. "I have to take my squadron up at 1100 today."
"I hope you like flying a ghost plane, because you are about to go to the other world," laughed Von Delvitz as he almost knocked Deke's sword out of his hand.
"Yeah, right," said Deke as he clashed again, swinging harder than he ever had before as a strange, exhilirating, blood-driven rage filled him. A weird fire was in his eyes as he glanced across the way at the Gamilons and then he swung again just as he locked eyes with a mournful-looking Sasha, who, nonetheless, seemed to be sending him strength from afar through her eyes.
Their eyes, and that look on his face, thought Desslok from beneath his hood. The Iscandarian legends I read as a boy, long ago. Could they be true? No. Iscandarians have not bonded that way in centuries, but…
The two clashing combatants met again, with Von Delvitz backing Deke away from the field of battle with each slash as Deke found himself going slowly up a spiral staircase in one of the ruined mushroom towers.
They disappeared into the shadows for a moment.
The tower was a place of death. Much of its stone and metal outer wall was gone, torn away by the volcanic fury of Gamilon in its death throes in 2200 and also torn away by a direct hit from one of the Argo's main guns, even though Wakefield didn't know that.
Nova was the only Terran there who remembered that tower, which was now a war memorial on New Gamilon.
I remember it, she thought….because I almost fainted when Mark almost ran right into it after we were dodging those missiles from the roof above. The keel of the Argo scraped the ground for a moment, we were flying so low. And I still see some of the red paint we left there. And then, we came around, and Derek grinned like crazy when he got that thing in the side with our main guns; he said, "Hey, Mark! Hey Nova! I just sent more of those bastards to hell!" War…in a war, you truly are not your better self. But is it safe up there? What if that thing collapses with them fighting in there?
In the tower, Deke nearly tripped over the skull of a long-dead Gamilon officer as Von Delvitz forced him up the stairs.
"How do you like that?" he screamed as the crowd gathered around the tower, heedless of the danger. "Up too far for your friends to save you, eh?" Von Delvitz sneered.
"Looks like we screwed up your tower big time seven years ago," said Deke with a crazy, desperate smile on his face. He swung at Von Delvitz and gave him another slash in the face.
"You were mass-murderers, destroying the finest civilization in the Local Group," hissed Von Delvitz as he slashed at Deke.
"What about you people and Earth?" barked Deke in reply. "Three billion people killed by your planet bombs! Can you comprehend that, asshole? Three billion people? Even your holy Goddamned Leader shows some sign of regret over that. What about you?" Deke yelled as he thrust at Von Delvitz, just barely missing his rotten heart.
"Too bad we didn't bomb the rest of you to oblivion!" laughed Von Delvitz as he knocked the rapier out of Wakefield's hands. Then, he laughed like a madman. "Cornered!" he said. "Trapped like a stinking rat!" he sneered as he stood with the point of his weapon against Deke's chest. "Not so good, now, eh, human?" he snorted. "Ready to die yet?"
"Not quite," hissed Deke as he was backed against a wall.
"Too bad," said Von Delvitz. "Because that is what is about to happen, Earthling! Today, at first light…you die…"
TO BE CONTINUED…
Book Seven will conclude with the next chapter: "Coming Up For Air"
