Chapter 9

The sound of a tiny baby's cry echoed off the metallic walls of the abandoned structure. This building was once alive with scientific and experimental endeavors that pushed the boundaries of insanity or pure genius. That was before its inhabitants were transformed and diverged to the sides of good and evil. Now, the Alchemist's lab was nothing more than a bad memory filled with broken dream and broken promises.

Many thoughts were traversing the corridors of Nova's mind as she lay on the softness of her old bed. Thoughts like why was she in the Alchemist's old lab? How did she get here? Where was Sprx? All she could remember was a fight between Sprx and Mandarin, Mandarin coming towards her, and then blackness. But none of this seemed important now, the only thing that really mattered to Nova were the unhappy cries of her baby. She wished to hold him safely in her arms and comfort him like a mother should.

Nova turned her head and saw Mandarin sitting on his old bed, the one next to hers. His back was towards her, and lying next to him squirming, reaching upwards towards something that wasn't there, and screaming his little heart out, was a furry little red and yellow mass. Even though she could only see the back of him, Nova could tell Mandarin was deep in contemplation and was clearly not paying any attention to the child beside him.

She turned her whole body to try to get up, but found this an extremely difficult task: her entire body, especially her groin and abdomen hurt immensely from giving birth. Mandarin took notice of the commotion Nova was making and quickly snatched up the baby. He now stood facing Nova, carelessly holding the newborn monkey, and peering at his once-mate.

"Mandarin please, give him to me, he needs his mother," Nova begged as she reached for Elio. All Mandarin did was stare at Nova, looking as if he was still in deep in the thought from which he had just been disturbed. Panic was starting to take hold of Nova; she knew the things of which Mandarin was capable, especially when he was angry. She had to get her child away from him.

"Please Mandarin, I know you must be terribly angry and feel so betrayed by what I did to you, but Elio is just a baby, he's innocent in all this, and we're supposed to protect the innocent."

"He won't stop crying!" Mandarin bellowed.

"He must be hungry. I can stop him crying if you just give him to me so I can feed him." Mandarin took a few moments to think about this proposal and, despite all that had happened between him and the beautiful female who lay before him, the incessant crying was enough to make him give up his only leverage over her.

"Here," was all Mandarin said as he grabbed the baby by a tiny leg, hoisted him up, and handed him over to his mother, who promptly grasped him in her arms, away from Mandarin's cruelty.

Mandarin went back to his bed and continued his thought process, all the while making sure not to let Nova out of his sights, not that she had anywhere she could go: he had locked all the exits under his command code. She was also far to fatigued to even try and fight her way out.

Nova massaged her breast to get the milk flowing, just as Gibson had instructed during one of her prenatal appointments. This particular appointment included constant threats from Sprx, who didn't appreciate another male, even if it was just Gibson, being so close to Nova's breasts. Elio took no time in latching onto her and started enjoying the first meal of his life. It was a weird feeling, but it was one of the most wonderful physical sensations Nova had ever felt.

The whole time Nova was wondering what Mandarin was thinking. Why wasn't he talking? What was going to happen to them? Mandarin gave a low growl. Elio had let a little burp escape from his tiny mouth and fell promptly asleep. Nova cradled him comfortably in her arms and rocked him. Mandarin chose now to finally say what he was thinking. "WHY, Nova? Why would you do this to me? To us? Haven't I always treated you like a queen? Haven't I always given you everything?" His face displayed a mixture of anger and sadness.

Nova had to take a moment to think about Mandarin's inquiries. "Yes, you have, Mandarin, to all of the above. You have been an amazing lover and mate…"

"But you deemed Sprx, the pilot, the funnyman, as a better lover and a better mate," he seethed.

Nova looked down and her gaze brushed the furry red edges of her slumbering baby. She didn't know how to answer him without incurring his wrath on them both, because in all honesty, for reasons she couldn't express in words, Sprx was a better lover to her, and he was a much better mate than Mandarin.

It seemed like Mandarin was reading her thoughts and, although he did not like it, he inferred a conclusion from them. "How long has… has this been… how long have you been seeing him?"

Again, Nova carefully thought through her response before meekly answering, "About a year." She could hear Mandarin emit another low growl.

"So everything in our relationship for the past year has been a complete lie?" He shouted. All the usually fearsome warrior could do was cower and protect her baby. It seemed a rhetorical question, one for which he did not wait to hear the answer.

"Do… do you… love him?"

Surprised by his lack of aggression, Nova dared to look up at the orange simian, and simply said "yes."

"And what about me? Have you ever loved me?"

"Yes."

"But not anymore?"

Nova thoughtfully tilted her head to one side and looked deep into his eyes with a pitying look in them. "Mandarin, I still love you, but – "

"But not like Sprx." He finished her sentence.

Nova bowed her head again to avoid Mandarin's gaze. He, in turn, took a long, deep breath, exhaled, and rose to his feet. Nova was sure Mandarin was moments from giving her the thrashing she was sure he thought she deserved, or worse, try to hurt Elio. But to her great surprise, he merely spoke, in resolute and determined tones that clashed with those in which he had so recently spoken.

"Very well Nova, then you leave me choice." She looked back up at him, a slightly bewildered expression on her face.

"I am your leader, as well as the leader of the Hyperforce, and soon, I will be leader of all of Shuggazoom!" A sinking feeling came over Nova. "And as such, I must be seen as strong and unbending, with a queen and heir at my side."

Nova started to inch backwards on her bed. "Mandarin, what are you talking about?"

"Do you really think that we were given these wonderful gifts and our special abilities just to protect a bunch of whiney and stupid people? The Alchemist must have had something greater, much greater in mind when he created us."

"NO! He knew there was evil out there and that people needed someone to defend them against it. THAT is our purpose! THAT is why the Alchemist created us!"

Mandarin chuckled at this and shook his head, acting like Nova was a naïve child who couldn't possibly understand. He advanced upon her. Nova reacted by scooting further still away from this maniacal being in front of her.

"My dearest Nova, I'm sure you will see, in due time, that our purpose is to rule Shuggazoom and eventually, the universe!" He cackled evilly, which scared Nova even more. The poor female didn't know what else to say, and even worse was that Elio was stirring, as if his awakening was imminent. Suddenly, he started glowing in a faint green aura. It lasted only seconds and wasn't very bright, but it was enough to get both Nova's and Mandarin's attention.

"Ah, yes. I knew it! He is powerful in the Power Primate. Excellent! Yes, my plans are falling into place. Granted, I would have rather a child whose blood was of my own, so he would be supremely powerful in the Power Primate, but I suppose the offspring of Sprx will have to do… for now.

"Mandarin no, this isn't right! This isn't what the Alchemist had planned for us!" Nova tried again to reason with the orange monkey, who seemed to be radiating in his lust for power.

He ignored her words and carried on, "of course, I will have to remove everything and everyone in my way. The Skeleton King will be the first to go, yes. And I shall simply have to neuter the red one, as punishment for touching what is mine, and to ensure that something like this never happens again! Death is far too simple a fate for his treachery, and he may prove a useful slave to me. Besides, I want him alive so he can watch as I conquer all that is mine, and that includes you." He now had a seductive grin about him. Nova's fear evolved into pure shock, if not for herself, then for Mandarin's intentions towards the father of her child.

"Yes Nova, the Alchemist was clear on one of his intentions: that we be mates. And I fully intend on making use of what he has promised me. The next time you are fertile, I will make you mine again, and when you bear my child, the three of us will rule together!" He erupted into an evil cackle that far overshadowed the previous one.

Nova found the courage to speak, "you really think the rest of us will let you get away with this?"

"Ha! They will not be in any position to defy me! I will have all the power of the Power Primate and the powers that manifest within my offspring. And of course, you will be at my side. A powerful warrior queen that you are, they –"

"Never," Nova defiantly stated.

"What?"

"I will NEVER join you in an attempt to take over Shuggazoom, and I certainly won't help you take over the entire universe!"

Mandarin moved to grab for the infant, who was surprisingly still asleep amidst all the yelling. With great physical pain, Nova was able to gain her feet. She made a lunge for the door but Mandarin grabbed her by the waist and threw her onto the next bed. Acting quickly, she maneuvered herself so that she landed on her back to protect Elio. The baby awoke and immediately started crying. Mandarin was beyond livid, and the renewed cries of the infant only fueled his rage. He made another violent grab for him, and just as his metallic hand was inches from the newborn's tiny head, a loud crash shook the entire structure, shaking loose dust and obscuring everyone's vision. Mandarin managed to find Nova's arm through the dust cloud and grabbed her tightly, bring her to her feet so she now stood beside him, still holding a screaming baby.

The dust settled within a few moments. Standing in the doorway was Sprx, breathing heavily and staring daggers at Mandarin.

"Get away from them."