Chapter 25

"So, what's our next move?" Mark asked Xan. The two of them were sitting in Zoltar's personal retreat. Mark had agreed to return after the speech, mostly because he was now in great demand; enough so that the Spectran people insisted on seeing him every few hours, at least. Everywhere the Commander went, people stopped him to say a few words of gratitude, or offer their thanks. Mark appreciated that citizens of Spectra approved of what he had done, but it was making it difficult to 'lay low'. The Great Spirit had been mysteriously quiet since Mark's speech, and Xan and the Commander had quickly begun to nervously wonder why the alien had not attempted to contact 'Zoltar'.

Mala, however, had not been so deficient. She and Sara had cornered Mark and Xan in Zoltar's office, demanding to know what was going on. 'Zoltar' simply replied that he had the best interests of the Spectran people at heart, and that she should keep her nose out of it.

Mala had looked strangely at him then, studying her 'brother' speculatively for a long moment before speaking quietly.

"I can understand your desire to see a free Spectran people." she had said. "I even share that desire. I only question whether it is truly possible."

"It is possible." Mark had said firmly, his face a mask of determination.

Mala had leaned close to him, her lips less than an inch from his ear.

"Then… this one time… I will trust you." she had whispered. She had turned quickly on her heel and left the room, and briefly Mark had wondered if she had actually said what he had thought she did.

They had not heard from her since.

Yol was another matter. He had been sent by the Great Spirit to the Yaku Province a couple of days before, and the Blackbird had returned only hours ago. He had obviously left Yaku the moment he had seen 'Zoltar's' broadcast. Yol would obviously have figured out that Mark had 'escaped', so Xan decided to make himself scarce. He was hiding in Zoltar's quarters, avoiding his brother at all costs, in order to avoid a confrontation with Yol. Mark understood Xan's reticence, but it was making things highly inconvenient.

"Now that the troops are actually beginning to return to Spectra, the people are seeing that you meant what you said during your speech." Xan informed Mark. "Still, it has only been about twenty-four hours since Prince Zoltar declared himself. We need to act further, to solidify our position and prevent the Great Spirit from…"

Footsteps echoed in the corridor, and Xan immediately hid himself, while Mark went to open the door.

"Thank the Spirit I found you!" the Galaxy Girl cried as she entered. "Where is Xan?"

Mark was unable to tell if the woman was Sara or Tani. The two women were identical, in the same manner that Yol and Xan were nearly impossible to tell apart.

But Xan had no such trouble.

"What is it, Tani?" he asked, as he stepped out from his place of concealment.

"Yol, and Sara…" Tani said breathlessly. "I overheard them speaking! They have orders from Lord Zoltar!"

"The real Lord Zoltar." she clarified, looking askance at Mark.

"You know?" Xan was astonished.

"I heard Yol explaining it to Sara." Tani nodded. "It all makes sense now: why the Master would betray the Great Spirit in this way… it wasn't the Master at all!" she glared at Xan accusingly.

"You know how I have longed to break the Great Spirit's control over the Master and Mistress." Xan defended his actions. "The Mistress hasn't been as affected as the Master; likely because Lord Zoltar spends much more time in conference with the Luminous Once. But still, you have noticed the changes in them…"

"Oh, yes, I have noticed." said Tani disgustedly. "I was overjoyed when the Master spoke to the people yesterday. But now, to learn that it wasn't truly he…"

She looked at Xan and Mark, despair written across her face.

"I only hope that you have placed your faith into the right hands." she said to Xan.

"I have." Xan nodded firmly. "The Commander is a great man, and willing to help our planet, in order to end this war that plagues both of our peoples."

"I have trusted you since we were both children, Xan," Tani said, "and I trust you in this as well. That is why I have come to tell you that Yol and Sara are leaving for Earth right now."

"Now?" Mark cried, "What are they doing?"

"They are taking Dr. Mansonstein with them." Tani said, "And some of his equipment. I gathered from what they said that they also intend to strike at the heart of Galaxy Security. That is all I know."

"I must protect them!" Mark declared, his purple cape swirling as he turned to stride out of the room.

"I agree." Xan replied grimly, moving with the Commander through the door, a nervous Tani following behind. "If Yol manages to attack Galaxy Security, it will seem as if what you have been doing here is false: a deliberate attempt to mislead the Federation. The war will continue. We must stop this… invasion."

"They are leaving from Docking Bay Five." Tani reported. "But you must hurry!"

"Thank you for telling us this." Xan said to the Galaxy Girl. "But you must now return to the Mistress. Yol and Sara must not suspect that you…"

"I understand." Tani bowed slightly, before running off down the corridor, in the opposite direction from Mark and Xan.

"This way." Xan showed Mark the path they were to take. "We should not encounter any patrols on this route. We must get to Docking Bay Five as quickly as possible!"

The two men hurried through the hallway the Blackbird had indicated. The entrance was somewhat obscure, and Mark had had to offer his handprint to a cleverly disguised wall panel in order to access it. Within moments, they had arrived at the Docking Ring, emerging out into a main corridor where green-uniformed soldiers patrolled.

The two men had to reduce their speed, appearing to walk with purposeful intent, but not hurrying overmuch. As they passed, the Spectran guards bowed low, some cheering 'Lord Zoltar' loudly. Mark smiled and waved his hand at them, but inside, his mind was frantic. Whatever could Zoltar be planning? He had to stop that ship!

But as Mark and Xan arrived at Docking Bay Five, they saw the last door on a stealth warship closing. Quickly, Mark grabbed Xan by the collar, throwing him into the rapidly disappearing entrance and jumping in behind. The maneuver was more difficult to accomplish without the use of Birdstyle, but somehow the Commander managed, falling into an inelegant heap on the floor inside of the craft.

"We have to figure out what Yol is planning!" Mark told Xan as he scrambled to his feet. "Where is the Bridge?"

But even as the Commander attempted to re-group, the sound of marching footsteps was heard coming toward them.

The Blackbird and the Eagle disappeared into the shadows, just as Yol appeared around the corner, a squadron of Spectran goons behind him.

"Come on out, Commander!" he called mockingly. "Our sensors detected your unauthorized entrance onto the ship. We know you are here." The guards behind Yol all raised their weapons, pointing them at various places around the room.

"Hide!" Mark whispered to Xan. "They don't know that you support me! With luck, you can still stop them!" He didn't know if the Blackbird would obey his order, but he had to reveal himself, regardless.

The Commander flew down from the ceiling, reaching for a weapon he realized too late wasn't there. He was so used to being the Eagle that he had momentarily forgotten whose costume he wore.

Despite the setback, the Eagle fought for all he was worth. He landed feet first on the soldiers in front, crushing their noses and sending their previously rigid forms crumpling to the floor. He sprung off of their falling bodies, doing a backflip that landed him upright in front of Yol, and moved fluidly into a fighting stance.

All of the remaining soldiers' weapons pointed immediately at Mark's position.

"I will not let you attack the Federation!" he shouted. "Spectra must end this war!"

Immediately, the soldiers behind Yol appeared uneasy.

"This really is Lord Zoltar!" one of them exclaimed. "You said it was an imposter!"

The men all turned accusingly toward Yol.

"He is an imposter." Yol sneered. "He didn't hesitate to kill two of you, just now. "

"They are not dead, only unconscious." Mark refuted the Blackbird's claims, attempting to sway the guards. "All I ask is that Spectra be given a chance for peace! If you attack the Federation now, that chance may be forever lost!"

"This man is a traitor, and I am giving you orders on behalf of the Luminous One!" snarled Yol.

One of the guards lowered his weapon, apparently uncertain as to the proper course of action.

Without warning, Yol whirled on his foot, striking the man's neck with his fingers and breaking it instantly. He returned to his former position.

"Anyone else have doubts?" the Blackbird snarled.

The men all raised their weapons and pointed them aggressively at Mark.

Mark threw himself at Yol, thrusting his leg out in a devastating side kick. Yol avoided hit, skirting the attack and sending a vicious punch at Mark's face. The Commander expertly blocked the move, returning the punch with one of his own.

The Blackbird and the Commander fought quickly and skillfully, the two of them a blur of movement to the startled observers.

"Now!" Yol shouted.

Mark barely had time to wonder what was happening when bands of golden light shot out from the soldiers' weapons, encompassing both him, and the Blackbird he fought. The light rippled and surged, winding itself around his body, constraining him and preventing further movement. Yol, who was subjected to the same treatment, merely laughed at the surprise on his opponent's face.

"It is over, Commander." he sneered.

The two of them lay upon the ground, bound by the golden restraints. One of the guards came up to Yol and did something behind his back, causing the shining ropes to fall from the Blackbird's body.

Yol stood up, brushing off his uniform and smiling contemptuously at the bound, purple-garbed man below him.

"I was expecting you sooner, Commander." he gloated. "I'm surprised it took you this long to find us."

Mark ground his teeth in frustration. It was a trap! He and Xan had been set up! Yol had wanted him to board the ship. He had been waiting for him. Had Tani betrayed them, or had she been deceived as well?

The Commander's only chance now was the possibility that Xan had gotten away. He hoped Yol's brother would be able to stop this senseless attack.