Chapter 9: A Cold Sun Dawns
Salzor and Alistair approached the docking Lancelot. Salzor clasped his hands behind his back. Eva was the perfect warrior for them. She had mastered the Lancelot's controls in moments, and instead of letting loose with the power of the machine, only subdued her opponents without taking any damage herself. She had even mastered the Soul Drive, something that not even Alistair had mastered…
He remembered when he had spoken with the chief mechanics on the ships and the creators of the Lancelot…
"The Soul Drive cannot be controlled with ease." One of the mechanics had said.
"How can it be controlled?" Salzor demanded.
"We don't know." The other said.
"Then how did she trigger it?" Salzor yelled at the mechanics.
They both shrank back in fear. They both shrugged, "I'm sorry Sir, we don't know." The first said.
Salzor walked around in a circle, cursing. He looked at the two, "Build me a new A-Class ship with higher specs, like the Lancelot's, and give it a Soul Drive."
They looked at each other, "Um, we can't equip another Soul Drive." The first said, "We didn't bring the materials we need to make one."
"Damn it!" Salzor pounded his fist on the wall, giving out a loud bang.
Alistair put his hand on the general's shoulder, "She doesn't need the Soul Drive since she'll have the Lancelot." He looked at the mechanics, "Keep its specs high, and only Wing Mode."
They were about to go off and do as Alistair had said, but Salzor yelled for them to stay.
"No." He had said, "Alistair, you'll keep the Lancelot. Let the girl have no Soul Drive. I doubt she'll use it again anyway, or knew what had happened."
Alistair nodded. The mechanics ran off to do his bidding.
Now Salzor cursed. Eva may be a capable pilot and fighter, but, without the Soul Drive, she may not be as good as he needed her to be. He looked to Alistair at his right. The Lancelot's hatch opened, and Eva climbed out and dropped to the ground.
"I'm sorry." She quickly apologized, "I didn't mean to launch it. It just…launched."
Salzor held up his hand, "No need to apologize." He said.
She looked to Alistair who nodded, "You handled the Lancelot beautifully. In fact…"
"In fact." Salzor said, picking up from Alistair, "We want you to be a pilot-a soldier if you will-to pilot an A-Class ship and help us here."
She looked surprised by his offer, "Yes, I'll do it." She said.
Salzor smiled, "Excellent. We'll have a new A-Class ship ready for you by tomorrow."
She shook her head, "I don't want a ship like the Lancelot." She said. Before either of them, with their shocked looks, could question her, she quickly put in, "I like the Whizzing Arrow's design better."
Salzor nodded, "I'll have them make it in that model then." He turned, "Alistair, I'll leave the rest to you."
Alistair nodded to the general. Salzor walked off down the long hall.
"I don't know!" Aikka yelled.
Zhrog looked at him, "We Crogs don't have working charged particle weapons yet, so you didn't hear of information phrased like that on Nourasia."
"Aikka…" Luna put her hand on his arm.
"Fine." Aikka muttered through clenched teeth, "The charged particles…are known to me because of the Crogs." He looked up before Zhrog could speak, "On Nourasia they were using Nourasians as slaves, working on prototype weapons, and, while never completed into weapons, only tanks of charged particles, they told the Nourasians of what the power would be."
Zhrog nodded, "So, you know your fair share."
"I do." He said, "More than you think."
He was suddenly amused by the Nourasian, "Tell me." He ordered.
"Under what order?" Aikka demanded, reaching for his blade.
"Under Crog orders." Zhrog replied. He leapt forward and slammed Aikka into the wall, throwing his fist around Aikka's throat and choking him.
Aikka struggled for breath, "Fine, I'll tell you."
Zhrog released him, allowing Aikka to fall to the ground. He moved one hand up and down his sore throat as he coughed, "I know what will happen if any ship goes critical in a hanger." He admitted.
"Oh?" Zhrog asked.
"The charged particles, when striking an enemy, destroy the base of the struck substance. If one goes critical in the hanger, the hanger, if not more, will be destroyed, not only by the explosion, but the energy release ripping through the steel. The entire ship would go down."
Zhrog laughed, "Oh? Well, you told me how to win if I ever must turn against the Earth forces!"
Aikka glared up at him, one hand slowly working its way towards his blade.
Zhrog kicked him in the ribs, keeping him down, "Don't try." He glared back at Luna for a moment, and then walked off.
She ran to Aikka's side and helped him up, "I am sorry My Lord."
"It's ok." He replied, getting to the balls of his feet, "I'm fine. But the Earth forces may not be."
Using the Whizzing Arrow models as a design, the mechanics, under Alistair's orders, had started making an A-Class ship of the Arrow's design.
Alistair left them to work. They were good, and would have it done by the next day. He looked out into space as he walked, gazing down at the planet. They would have to land eventually with one or two ships, drop off supplies, then rejoin in space for the defense web. That was the plan; at least, what he had been told was the plan.
He walked down into the crew quarters, knocking on the first of the steel grey doors he came across.
Eva opened it, "Please, come in." She opened it wider to allow him to enter.
"No." He said, "I won't be staying. Your ship will be ready by tomorrow; by the time we reenter space. But, have you told your father of your wishes?"
"I haven't told him yet." She admitted, "I will soon."
He nodded, "You'd best do it soon."
"I will." She closed the door and slumped against it. How was she going to tell her father that she was joining, not as a mechanic, but as a soldier?
She got up and walked over to a console that had since been quickly installed in the room. She pressed a few buttons and waited. Stan and Koji were away, doing their jobs as mechanics while leaving her alone. They did repairs while she tried to tell her father that she was to be a soldier.
She finally sent the signal to the Crashing Blade, getting Rick instead.
"Little Mouse, what is it?" He asked.
"Um, where's my father?" She asked.
"Oh?" He asked, "You want Don?" He called off screen, "Don! It's your daughter!"
"Thank you Rick." She said.
He nodded and walked out of view. Don came into view, "Eva, what is it?" He asked.
"Um, General Salzor wants me to be a soldier after I piloted the Lancelot."
"What?" Don demanded, "You were in combat? In the Lancelot?"
"I was." She said, "But, I said yes. I want to fight for the Earth forces."
He was angered beyond belief, "What? You can't Eva! You could get killed!"
"I know." She said, "But I have to! It's my duty!"
He shook his head, "I guess I can't stop you." He looked into her eyes as he saw them, "Eva, be safe."
"I will." She replied, "And thank you."
He smiled a bittersweet smile, "No problem my daughter." He looked down, finding the switch, and cut off the transmission.
She smiled. He approved.
Alistair returned to Salzor's chambers and knocked upon the door, "General, it's me."
"A moment!" Salzor yelled.
Alistair shook his head, "He needs a woman. This is getting ridiculous."
But inside, he was doing something else. He was speaking to Secretary of Defense Thomas Nereus.
"It's all but done." Salzor reported, quieter than usual now with Alistair outside. He turned down the volume so Nereus's voice wouldn't be heard.
"How much?" Nereus asked.
"We have the girl Eva on our side, and her skills are incredible. So far, the enemies are falling with ease. Soon, Emproga shall be ours." He said, finishing with a vicious smile.
"Excellent." Nereus replied. He looked over his shoulder, "Someone comes. I must be off."
Salzor nodded as Nereus switched the transmission off.
Salzor got up and opened the door, allowing Alistair to enter.
"Yes Alistair?" Salzor asked. He resumed his seat.
"The ship will be ready by the time we reenter space." Alistair reported. He looked around the room, but no indication of any inappropriate actions from Salzor.
"Anyway." Alistair said, "That's it. I'll be going."
Salzor nodded, "Be sure that the Nourasian guests are well taken care of."
"I shall." Alistair replied. He smiled at the thought of Luna and walked out to head for Aikka's chamber aboard the Mordred.
He took the Lancelot and flew over as it also went, with the other ships, except for the Gawain and the Avalon towards Emproga. The two ships would stay in space to defend.
The Lancelot docked on the Mordred and Alistair leapt out, throwing his flight suit and helmet to the ground as he walked along.
He knocked on Aikka's chamber, "King Aikka, Lady Luna, please, open the door."
The door opened, but it was Canaan.
"Go away Alistair." He said. He had his sword drawn and behind his back.
Alistair saw it. He knew that his gun wouldn't be fast enough.
"What's with the sword?" Alistair asked.
"Lady Luna has spoken to me of you, as has Lord Aikka." Canaan said, "One glance at Luna, and you'll be finished."
Alistair nodded to the Nourasian, "I'll remember that."
"Good." He closed the door, not allowing Alistair to say a word.
From across space, soaring from Oban towards the planet of Emproga, came streaking light. It glowed a shining gold color as it moved, carrying no visible mass.
The light circled around Emproga, away from the ships, and then came down to the planet.
Light crashed into a crater on the planet surface.
From the light something rose up.
A humanoid being rose to his full height. He drew his sword and walked towards the settlement of this side of Emproga.
Bloodlust was in his eyes. Consumed his mind.
And the one he saw, burned in, was Eva.