Chapter 13

Mark stared at the silver bag in front of him. It wasn't thrilling, but the Federation MRE was a hell of a lot more appetizing than the unidentified neon green sludge Xan had been bringing him for the last day or so. Apparently, the Spectran Forces had captured some Federation supply ships the previous month, and for some unknown reason had kept a few crates of the emergency food rations the ships had been carrying. Mark knew that he should feel sympathy for the Federation citizens who had had to do without because of that raid, but at the moment he was just incredibly grateful for the familiar meal.

He had eaten more than a few MREs in his time, but they had never tasted as good as this one.

Mark chewed thoughtfully on his canned spaghetti, appreciating the taste of tinned tomatoes more than he had ever thought possible. Xan entered the room to see Mark smiling to himself as he ate.

"I am glad that this pleases you." he said.

"I am very grateful. " Mark replied. "I appreciate that you are making an effort on my behalf."

"I find that this is not a difficult thing to do." Xan admitted. "You are not at all as I expected."

"Really?" Mark was curious. "What did you expect?"

"I thought that you would be more arrogant." Xan revealed. "More… demanding. Less… polite."

"Well, I am happy to have changed your opinion of Federation citizens, then." Mark smiled.

"Oh, I did not mean that I thought that all Earthers behaved badly;" Xan clarified, "only that I expected as much from the G-Force Commander."

"But, why?" Mark couldn't help feeling slightly insulted.

"I apologize." Xan said quickly. "I did not mean to offend. I only meant…"

"Perhaps I should not have said anything." Xan sighed.

It was obvious to Mark that there was something troubling the Blackbird.

"No, Xan…" He placed a hand on the man's arm, not certain exactly what to say. He decided on the direct approach.

"What is on your mind?" he asked.

Xan appeared startled by this question. He gave Mark an intense look, carefully scrutinizing the Commander's facial expressions.

"Are you certain that you are the G-Force Commander?" he asked.

Mark was taken aback, but answered truthfully.

"Yes." he replied. "I may look like Zoltar, but I am not Zoltar. I recall everything about myself, and I don't think I have been altered in any way, except for my physical appearance."

"I understand." Xan nodded. "It's just that you remind me so much of…"

Mark waited silently, hoping that Xan would finish his statement. After a long moment, his patience paid off.

"You remind me of Prince Zoltar." Xan said slowly. "With your current appearance, sometimes, for a moment, I forget that you are actually not the Master."

Mark could not keep his disgust at the notion of being like Zoltar from his face. He was repulsed at the very idea.

"You really think that I'm anything like…" he began to protest. But his voice trailed off as he realized that he might be offending the one Spectran he had ever met who had shown any degree of decency.

"Yes, I do." Xan said quietly. "But not as he is now. You remind me of Prince Zoltar: as he was before the Great Spirit came to our planet." The Blackbird's countenance was melancholy and wistful.

"You mean, Zoltar has undergone a personality change?" Mark asked.

"In a manner of speaking." Xan confirmed. "You have to understand that I have known Prince Zoltar for many years. When he and his sister were born twins, it was seen as a sign from the Ancient Gods. As high-blood twins, my brother and I were chosen to be Prince Zoltar's exclusive playmates. The three of us literally grew up together."

"You must be very close." Mark observed.

"We were." Xan sighed. "But we have all changed. The Master is much closer to my brother Yol, now."

"And this bothers you?"

"I am not jealous of my brother's intimacy with the Master, no." Xan replied wryly. "It is the reason for this closeness that bothers me."

"What caused these… changes?" Mark asked.

"Growing up, Prince Zoltar was always kind and generous." Xan said. "He knew that one day he would be the King of the Spectran people, and he was constantly aware of everything he said and did, knowing that soon, the responsibility for the welfare of the citizens of the Spectran Empire would be his."

Mark nodded, fascinated. He knew nothing of Zoltar's past, much less his childhood.

"Go on." the Commander encouraged the Blackbird.

"I knew in my heart, that Prince Zoltar would make a wonderful leader for the Spectran people." Xan continued. "But when the Great Spirit came…"

He paused for a moment.

"The monarchy was disbanded." Mark prompted him.

"Yes." Xan acknowledged. "Prince Zoltar was now no better than anyone else, despite the high station of his birth. And we were all somewhat afraid of the unknown that was the Great Spirit. Still, Yol and I felt that with his parents' execution, Prince Zoltar would be the best leader of our planet."

"And Zoltar thought so too?" Mark asked.

"Yes." Xan confirmed. "He devised a plan to…"

"What are you doing in here?"

An angry Yol stood, fuming, in the doorway.

"What the hell are you thinking, talking to the prisoner?" Yol shouted belligerently at his brother.

"I was only telling him about our glorious planet." Xan replied calmly. He did not appear in the least distressed to see his brother glaring at him.

"Don't waste your breath. " Yol laughed harshly. "Federation filth like this," he gestured to the Commander, "could never understand the complexities of our people. Why, he would be dead right now if it weren't for…"

Yol stopped speaking, his eyes glittering viciously at Mark.

"If it weren't for what?" Mark challenged the man, since it was clear that he would speak no further, without encouragement.

"It is none of your business, Earther scum." Yol spat.

"I think he has a right to know." Xan spoke up on Mark's behalf.

"Oh, I see!" Yol sneered. "You've gone all soft on him, because on the outside, he looks like the Master! Well, he's nothing like the Master on the inside."

"You are right, of course." Xan bowed his head respectfully, but Mark could see a glint of amusement in the Blackbird's eye.

"I am the elder." Yol sniffed haughtily. "Lord Zoltar left me in charge. My directives for the prisoner are the only ones that matter."

"I understand, Yol." Xan bowed, acknowledging his brother's words.

The rigid lines of Yol's face softened for a moment so brief, Mark felt that perhaps he had imagined it.

"Come, brother." Yol stretched out his arm to Xan. "Let us speak of the glorious Spectran Empire, and how our magnificent culture will one day blanket the Galaxy."

"I am your servant, Yol." Xan nodded, accepting his brother's offer. The two Blackbirds left the chamber, locking the door behind them, without another word to Mark.

The Commander was left alone with his confused thoughts. What had Xan been about to reveal about Zoltar's plan, after he had been stripped of his title? Was this how Zoltar had regained his hereditary position as Spectran Leader?

More importantly, what was Yol hiding? Mark knew it was important, but was unable to imagine what it was, although it was clear that it likely tied in to the reason that Mark was here on Spectra, in this altered form, to begin with.

The Commander began to ponder these questions from all angles. It certainly was an appropriate use of his ample free time.