Eddboy5: No problem. And yes, there'll be a lot of explosions... including a VERY big one... later on. But that's more towards the climax, I'm afraid.

Quill in Hand: Thanks for the nice chapter comment. As for Harry Potter, I just haven't read it yet, not ignored it. I don't really have the time to these days. And, well, here's an update for ya. ;-P

TheRabidMonkey: My problems lay in the painfully overblown "America kiss everyone's $$" sentiment and how New York is obliterated; the city means A LOT to me. You'll notice in Frankie's chapter the Zygrans are only taking pot-shots. ;-) As for the Kaijexian Navy, it's still trying to recover from the Zygran occupation, so it's probably very limited at the moment. As for your concerns about humanity fighting back, it's my belief that aliens actually invaded Earth, we would be STEAMROLLED. I mean, we're talking a species capable of space travel v. a species that's barely landed on its moon. However, there'll be a few scenes later on you may appreciate.

Eddboy5: Sorry? I don't know what you're talking about...

Anyway, back to the Peach Creekers for a bit...

"Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours...?"
Gordon Lightfoot, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Aboard the Kaijex, en route to the Sol System

"Come in..."

The doors shyly swished open at Nazz's response. After a moment, Edd shyly peeked his head inside.

"Er, hello Nazz." The saddened monarch turned to her prime minister, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Double-D, hey. C'mon in," she said softly, waving him towards her. The boy nodded for a moment, then slowly walked over to Nazz, who was sitting on her bed, looking out at the conduit they were passing through to reach Earth. He sat down; Nazz slid over and gently snuggled up. "Anything coming through about..."

"It's chaos," Edd answered with a silent sob. "They're walking over everyone. America, China, England... it may as well be like the Polish army against the Germans in World War II. No word on a death toll, but..."

"Have they said anything about Minnesota?" Nazz whispered.

"The city closest that we've heard being attacked for sure is Detroit. There were rumors about Minneapolis, but we don't know. I do know I can't reach home. Have you, Nazz?" The girl shook her head, tears in her eyes. Edd pulled her close and gave her a gentle hug. "Don't cry, Nazz," he urged. "Perhaps it's something about the conduit. I'm sure Peach Creek is fine."

"I... guess," she mumbled. Edd bit his lip, trying to think of a change of subject to distract Nazz from the dark news. He looked on the bed.

"My, this is a nice throw," he said as he got up slightly to look at it further. "What is it, Nazz?"

"Oh, that?" Nazz replied as she nodded at it. "My 'grandma' made it for me when I was, like, four. I kept it on my bed on Earth... you can kinda see the dried gunk from the cocoon thing," she continued, pointing to a stiffer, dark spot. "She gave it to me for good luck, to keep me safe... I got it when we visited home after we defeated the Zygran occupation."

"Which we shall do again," he promised. Nazz chuckled ironically.

"Double-D, that was an occupational force on a subjugated planet. We're talking about God knows how many of the slime balls all over Earth. Simultaneously. I'm afraid we can't just, like, upload a computer virus into their servers, dude," she replied with a half smile. Edd returned it.

"Well, it's nice to see that you can still crack a joke or two, Nazz. If you can make fun of a predicament, it makes it that much more surmountable."

"Yeah, I'll just read Letterman Top Ten lists until the Zygrans keel over from some kinda bug in the air. That'll work." Edd sighed, and looked out the window at the flashing blue and white hues.

"Rather soothing," he commented, rubbing her back.

"A little," Nazz replied. Silence fell over the cabin for a moment before Edd himself started chuckling ironically. "What's so funny, Double-D?"

"This was supposed to be a better day..." he said as if he were in another world. "I was going to propose to you a few hours ago, after the staff briefing today."

"Oh, you were going t-- WHAT!" Nazz gasped, jerking away in shock. Edd blushed, realizing he said too much. Before he could open his mouth to defend himself, the ship shook violently. As they watched, they fell out of the conduit and into normal space, adrift.

"What the hell...?" she muttered.

"What the hell...?" Katarn said to herself as she yanked at controls. Without her telling it to, the Kaijex had come to a screeching halt and now lay adrift, halfway between Kaijex and the Sol System. She cursed to herself in Kaijexian and Zygran as the ship refused to respond to her commands. Some of the others ran onto the bridge.

"Why'd we stop!" Eddy snapped, looking out a window.

"Yeah, we can't wait around like this!" May chimed in, peering out an opposite one. "We gotta get home! Now!"

"Rolf fears for the well-being of Nana and humanity if we are left to float aimlessly in the cold bosom of space!" the farmer cried.

"No one's drifting anywhere!" Jatala scolded from the co-pilot's seat. "My sister's one of the best pilots in the galaxy, and you should know t... why are you all staring at me like that?"

"...ship..." Jimmy squeaked, pointing out the window. Confused, Jatala looked in the direction of the small Kaijexian's finger. She was greeted by the sight of a Zygran battle cruiser, approaching them from the starboard bow. Now, it was her turn to curse in Zygran. As Katarn debated whether this was the best time to critique the girl's manners, the communications system blinked; the cruiser was hailing them.

"...should we answer?" Sara gulped.

"I fear either way, we are in trouble," Ed responded grimly as he put a hand on his small sister's shoulder. Composing herself, Katarn pressed the "receive" button. The field of stars gave way to a smirking Zygran.

"This is H'altor Malorya of the Zygran battle cruiser Kalnorr. Tell me, with whom do I have the honor speaking?"

"'Honor?' If I recall, you consider us filth," Katarn snarled.

"That's because you are. Tell me," he said as he looked at a view screen mounted on his chair, "why is a Kaijexian vessel en route to the Sol System? We are conducting... military exercises there. Target practice, if you will." Behind Katarn, it took all the willpower of the former humans to not scream in rage at his statement.

"We're on a research mission," Katarn lied. "There's planets there we wish to conduct a scientific survey upon. I'm sure you'd understand." The Zygran narrowed his eyes at her for a moment.

"You're lying," he growled. "Your ship has the royal emblem of Kaijex. You're the queen's yacht." His face twisted into a sickening grin. "We thought you'd pull something like this after you figured out our little intrigue game on your planet. And, well, we can't let you interfere in the annihilation of humanity. That is why we pulled you out of the conduit... And why you're about to meet whatever Higher Power you believe in. Goodbye, filth." With that, Malorya cut the transmission.

"He's arming weapons..." Kevin called out from a nearby console. Katarn broke into a nervous sweat.

"That's a bluff. Zygrans destroy high priority ships from the inside out. Arm yourselves; we're about to be boarded."

Edd and Nazz gapped at the sight outside the window.

"Zygrans!" the boy breathed in shock.

"How did those freaks find us!" Nazz snapped.

"They must have figured out when we captured their agents that we knew about their plans for Earth. They're probably here to ensure we don't make i--" As if answer, a large form materialized in the room. Grinning, he unsheathed a dagger.

"I have the honor of Queen of Kaijex herself. Your head will make for a wonderful trophy at home," the invader sneered.

"You're gonna have to relieve me of it first, dude," Nazz snarled as she got up. Edd also got up with a look of grim determination. The Zygran laughed.

"Is your little boyfriend going to save you, girl?" he sneered. "I would think you'd know there are no such happy endings in real life. Lest we forget once we kill you all and destroy your ship, we will proceed to Earth and assist in... cleansing it."

"You monster!" Edd screamed as he lunged at the Zygran. He thrust his dagger forward, catching the attacker in the side. Edd gasped in a mixture of surprise and pain, tumbling away as the warrior shoved him off the dagger. The boy crashed against a wall, clutching his wound. The Zygran slowly stepped forward.

"You'll be my warm-up, you arrogant little fool. For this, I'm going to splay your queen open like cattle and festoon my ship with her en--" The invader was cut off as something quickly wrapped around his neck from behind. He dropped the dagger, gasping frantically for air, clawing at the object. He failed, and soon he keeled over, strangled. Behind him was Nazz, panting, and dropping the throw she had just used to take the Zygran's life.

"Well, it almost worked," she said. "Good luck I had it... but you were the one it kept safe." Jumping off the bed, she ran to Edd's side to inspect the wound. "You okay, dude?"

"Yes, it's mostly superficial,"he said, still clutching the wound. "Our natural healing abilities should take care of it soon. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You just killed h-"

"The monster deserved it," Nazz growled as she kicked the corpse. "Now c'mon," she continued as she helped Edd to his feet. "It sounds like they need us on the bridge." Edd nodded, and the two raced out of her cabin and down the corridor.

It seemed like they wouldn't stop coming.

More and more Zygran invaders beamed onto the bridge, attacking the Kaijex's crew. Marie and May were engaged in a life and death struggle with one, backed into a corner and evading the invader's thrusts. Sara, busy attending to the wounded Jimmy, cried out as she was slashed across the back, hurt herself. In revenge, Kevin brought out his sidearm and fired point blank at the woman; there was little guilt in shooting someone attacking a defenseless girl tending to a friend.

"You make Rolf sick!" Rolf screamed as he smashed at two Zygrans with a piece of wreckage. Wielding it like a martial arts weapon, he took them out, causing them to slam against the nearby bulkhead. As a follow-up, he took out the man attacking the Kankers before he himself was kicked from behind. Johnny smacked the assailant with Plank repeatedly.

"Plank doesn't like it when you hurt his friends!" he snapped as he knocked the attacker unconscious. The boy whirled around and took out a second attacker before helping the farmer.

"Rolf thanks you for saving his buttocks, crazy-friend Johnny!" he said as he threw himself back into the fight.

At the very front of the ship, Katarn and Jatala were facing a burly Zygran, who was cocking his head as he studied their faces.

"You... look familiar," he said as he pointed his dagger accusingly at them.

"Um, we were held captive at Omtig Bau," Katarn replied.

"I didn't serve at that place. I was in Hilfing," he snapped back. "No matter, I'm going to kill you like the filth you are any--" Before he could finish, he collapsed from a blow from to the head. Behind him stood Nazz, with a small grin on her face.

"We are always saving each other's butts, Katarn," she quipped.

"Then allow me to do my job as the Captain of the Royal Guard," the young woman replied as she pulled her sword free. With a warrior yell, she dove at the remaining attackers, quickly taking them out of commission.

"You actually did that to your own kind?" Lee asked as she looked at Katarn's handiwork.

"They are from a society now alien to me," she replied as she returned her sword to its its sheath. "Are you hurt, Nazz?" she asked.

"No, I'm okay. What about everyone else?" Nazz called out.

"My sister and Johnny have been slashed with daggers," Ed answered as he raised his hand. "I believe you should help them." Nodding, the monarch soared over and placed her hands on the ailing Kaijexians. After a moment, their breathing returned to normal. Nazz sighed in relief and plopped onto her rear.

"Anyone else?"

"Just a few bruises and cuts," Marie called out as she helped May to her feet. "Lucky we know hand to hand combat with these guys." Nazz nodded and opened her mouth to respond when Katarn quickly pushed by her towards the pilot's station.

"Dude, what's the hurry?" Nazz asked.

"They're preparing to open fire," Katarn answered briskly as her talons danced across the controls. "I need to initiate evasive procedures; we won't stand a chance against a Zygran battle cruiser."

"Wait, they're gonna blow us up?" Marie asked. "But... there's wounded over here... Why would th--"

"As far as the crew is concerned, they have failed and deserve death," Katarn answered, almost as if the words were bitter in her mouth The Peach Creekers glanced at each other in numbed shock before the Kaijex was rocked.

"They're firing at us!" Eddy screamed.

"What was your first clue!" Kevin snapped back, steadying himself.

"I never should have let you come..." Katarn muttered angrily to herself as she cast a quick look towards Jatala. "If they knew about this, Mom and Dad would have my head on the wall."

"Hey, I chose to come, Kat," the young girl replied.

"So you did," her elder sister replied, a note of sorrow in her voice. The ship rocked again from another blast.

"We can't take much more of this..." May called out. "We take any more hits, and my calibrations for the engines could start a chain reaction."

"We take any more hits, it doesn't matter what we're flying," Edd responded numbly. A look of desperation and failure started to settle on their faces.

"We're not gonna make it, are we," Jimmy whispered.

"Earth's done for..." Sara chimed in, hugging her friend tight.

"Maybe not," Katarn suddenly said. She began to gun towards a nearby asteroid. "Guys, you should all hang on."

"Why?" Marie called out.

"Because... I'm about to do something incredibly stupid," she replied as she continued her kamikaze dive for the wayward rock. "If this works, we have one less cruiser to deal with in Earth orbit, and we live."

"And if it does not succeed...?" Rolf asked.

"We die horribly, and the human race is destroyed."

"...lovely outcomes," Ed muttered to himself.

"Either way, it was a pleasure to know you all. Hang on!" Katarn cried out as the asteroid filled the view screen. Sweat trickled down her brow as she gripped the controls; she hoped the cruiser was still pursuing them. Sudden craters forming in the rock face suggested. She blocked out the whimpers and gulps of the people around her, focused on the task at hand. She suddenly screamed, grabbed Jatala's hand yanked the console as hard as she could. The Kaijex promptly screamed up the asteroid, just meters from the rock face. The ship rocked and a great flash of light lit up the asteroid; the Zygran cruiser had slammed into it at full speed and exploded. After what seemed hours, the asteroid faded into the darkness, and Katarn leveled the ship out, heaving a massive sigh of relief. The others were quiet.

"...what just happened?" Kevin numbly said.

"We just avoided death," Katarn said, still panting.

"Oh... well, that's good. Really good," the boy mumbled as he stumbled across the bridge in a daze.

"What should we do with them, Nazz?" Marie said as she nodded at the Zygrans littering the floor.

"Part of me says 'blow them out of the airlock.' But, I'm not like that. Put them in the cargo bay under heavy guard if any of them are still alive. There's a body in my cabin too... he tried to kill Double-D." Edd blushed and rubbed his nape.

"You got it," Marie asked as she prepared to follow Nazz's orders. She winced as she did so; having already fought and killed didn't make touching the dead any easier for her.

"Your orders for me, Nazz?" Katarn asked. The monarch walked over and put a hand on her shoulder, panting slightly.

"Resume our course for Earth. Full speed."

"At once," the Kaijexian nodded as she activated a conduit and guided the ship inside.

"As for the rest of you, let's help Marie. Then after that, get yourselves ready. If you thought this was bad..." she paused, "we're playing for keeps at home. So, prepare yourselves. And, if that includes changing clothes after Katarn's little trick, by all means do so." A few cracked an uneasy smile at Nazz's quip. She smiled herself before her face hardened slightly. "Let's get to work, guys."

With that, the un-nerved gang set to work. A sense of finality was settling on their shoulders. Six billion people were counting on them.