When Mark finally did return, she had gone…
Looking around the inside of the small cottage, calling her name- no answer. Spotting a pot of soup on the stove, it was covered, and cold, a clue. Prin was as tidy in the housekeeping as he was, he figured she wouldn't leave it there if she had gone.
Walking outside he searched again hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
Still nothing.
The snow had melted into slush, leaving mud in places, the approaching spring was upon them.
Soon the trees would be budding green leaves. The place was waking up from its winter slumber stretching its arms wide, anticipating the coming season. The 'planet-shield' hadn't blocked out the sun, but there was a noticeable reduction in UV in some parts of the planet.
Striding down the path towards the small waterfall he had to figure out a way to make it work with her. So many thoughts floating in his mind, he almost fell over at the sight before him as he came into the clearing.
Prin was sitting on a log at a distance, watching the melting ice flood into the waterhole. Warming inside, a slow smile formed on his lips- she was wearing his clothes, and they were oversized on her slender frame. She had pulled the hood of the worn blue jumper over her head, dark hair spilling out the sides, teamed with a pair of cargo pants and her black boots.
He couldn't see her face, to read her mood, appearing to be lost in thought. He didn't want to disturb her. She rarely looked as peaceful as she did now. Sighing he had to start over with her each time they met.
Ducking in behind a tree, he observed her. The dappled sunlight poured through the trees shinning on her like a natural spotlight.
The damage Mala had done to her ran deep, the serum they used on her worked like an eraser in her mind, nothing came back to her. Her fighting spirit was still in there, and he had no clue how to help her repair the damage, even if she wanted him too. Her refusal to believe him drove him nuts.
But then what real proof had he presented other than his word on it? If he was in her position would he believe it? He remembered being fooled once by Zoltar with a time warp. It was a clever rouse that almost worked.
What happened to Prin was far worse, it's like they pulled her into an alternate reality by blocking her past memories erasing her identity. Retraining her to believe she made the choice herself. Mala had been though, attention to details to build a new world around her and making her into an obedient soldier for them. Locked in her current reality, Princess had the illusion of freedom within her prison. He saw her personality eroding over time, when she was lost a few months before, and attacked him, he thought she was gone completely. Gutted to the core he watched out for her, fearing one day he would be the one to end her life. Would do it if he had to? No… he concluded, he couldn't do it. He'd knock her unconscious and find a way to help her.
Didn't Jason try to do that with Saturn? His Galaxy girl when he fought her on a mecha. He tried to save her, she forced Jase to kill her by pulling a gun on him and firing. Mark remembered seeing it unfold, none of them could help the grieving Condor after that.
He lost it. Refusing to allow anyone in he became bitter. Princess tried to talk to him, he at least cried on her shoulder before anger at himself consumed him again.
Turning his focus back to her, watching her stand up, walk over to the stream. She crouched down on her knees, letting her fingers touch the running water, pushing the hood back her revealing messy hair shining in the sunlight, she was beautiful. It cut deep every time their eyes met, and not see the old recognition there. She leaned over further, watching her own reflection, the strain should have caused her pain, but her face remained neutral.
Not even a glint of it her former identity there. When she asked him to hold her, a glimmer of hope sparked inside of him, she was warming to him again.
He couldn't tear his eyes off her. His pulse racing, he wanted to do more than stare- she had an effect on him like no other woman he'd ever known.
A gut wrenching thought entered his mind with her distrust of men. Had she been raped? Had Zoltar touched her in any way? Any of those thoughts made him want to commit murder, hunt down the bastards that did it. Closed off from talking about her life in the Spectran army he didn't know how to ask her.
Drinking in the sight of her, calmly watching the melting stream running peacefully into waterhole, was like a form of meditation.
Closing his eyes, he blinked back a tear threatening to undo him at the sight of her being so close when he held her a few days ago, and at other times, distant and haunted.
He felt a sense of relief to be standing there watching her, thinking over the last few days and how close it came to ending her life.
Reflecting on it, he wanted to tell her how his deeper feelings her, but he couldn't. Her unstable responses to anything he said remotely personal, would likely jeopardise them, and they had work to do…
His thoughts wandered back in time, the memories still held raw pain, like a knife cutting up his insides as he saw Jason hit the red button…
Standing on the bridge watching the screens as the Phoenix dropped out of the clouds, to see a man falling from the a Spectran aircraft. To their astonishment, it appeared to be Chief Anderson with a parachute on.
Jason immediately set the target, hitting the red firing button before he could stop him. In horror, he watched as the missile headed directly for the Spectran aircraft, he hit the detonation button as it closed in, but it was too late.
"Why did you do that for?" Jason turned to him, anger written all over his posture.
"The chief, you could have killed him Jason. Tiny take us down, lets pick him up." He glared at Jason, part of it was the truth. Jason relented, apologetically.
Tiny swooped in to pick up the Chief.
Cold fingers crawled ran down his spin, watching it spiralling into the distance towards the ground, seeing it crash he prayed his hunch was wrong.
After they picked up the Chief he ordered them back to the base immediately. They frantically they searched the base for anyone alive, finding no one except 1-Rover-1 and a terrified secretary hidden in a closet. She informed them the rest were taken prisoner. They got her to a safer place, then they headed back to the Mansion.
He didn't waste any time, he jumped into his plane and headed out to the place he saw the Spectran aircraft crash.
By this time, it had been hours, they sun had almost set on the horizon.
Half hoping to find nothing, he searched the wreckage. He paled, seeing her limp, in the twisted wreckage covered in blood and debris his birdstyle protected him from the cold, he hoped her bodysuit protected her too.
Only slight relief flooded him to find her heartbeat and shallow breathing, the cold slowed down her vitals, and blood flowing from her wounds.
He had to work hard to get her out of the seat. Eventually pulled her out through the window.
Holding her in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, he raced across the snow to his plane in G-1 mode, as the temperatures dropped further and the sun kissed the hills in the background. He cradled her in his lap, flying to the cottage holding her close kepping her warm in his single seat plane, his heart pounding the whole time.
Limp in his arms he carried her broken body to the kitchen table- Working fast he perused over her injuries. No breaks from what he could see, a good start.
The open wounds needed fast attention and the metal piece in the side of her abdomen had to be removed. He checked her vital signs, she was still unconscious.
He pulled it out slowly. she vaguely flinched, her eyes flew wide open, and she fainted again.
He worked fast to stop the flow of slick blood pooling on the floor. "Common Prin…breath." He pleaded with her as she stopped breathing he gave her the kiss of life.
Worried she would be losing too much blood to recover without a transfusion, he played with the idea of getting her back to mansion. Saving her life his priority.
The time it would take, the flight, she could die before they made it.
He stripped off her clothing without thinking, so he could cauterize, stitch, dress it properly along with her other cuts and gashes.
Continually checking her vital signs, he ignored Jason as tried to call him. He could have used his paramedic expertise, but it required too much explaining.
"Mark are there…Damn it Mark pick up." Jason demanded.
Turning off his communicator he focused on the task at hand- Saving Princess.
Her wounds finally dressed, he got a washer to clean off the blood, noticing her only in black panties for the first time he hesitated. Her bare chest before him, he swallowed hard.
Not wanting to violate her privacy he averted his eyes for a second. You've seen her in a bikini before… Mark scolded himself, how is this different?
Signing he set about the task of wiping off the blood and grit gently from her soft skin- the adrenaline rush subsiding, and reality set in.
He almost lost her, if he hadn't seen the crash she would be dead at his hands, by his missile, it torn him to pieces.
Wrapping her into a blanket, and tenderly carrying her to his bed he laid her down to rest. Slowly sagging to the floor he leaned against the wall, relief washing over him in waves.
For now, she appeared stable she just had to wake up…
Until that point, his only thoughts during the last few years had been to get them all through this alive. Take enough risks to get the job done, but not so many that he lost his team like his brother did.
Jason often scolded him on missions for his reserved nature, the pair of them often disagreed on tactics, on almost everything, yet they remained close friends.
G-Force is his life, his dedication to the lives of his planet and others. Deep inside of him, he wondered if he would survive the war to have a life. Prin deserved someone she could build a future with, not break her heart.
A heaviness weighed upon him as he drew himself up and sank onto the bed next her, laying down close he felt her breath on his cheek as she slept.
He touched her cheek tenderly, and he wept without inhibitions in private- his anguish of the last few hours threatening to consume him. He had to let her go, but he couldn't as long he lived she would be the only one, she held his heart in her the palm of her hand, she always did and always would.
Looking into her serene face as she sleep- He wondered if he could ever be anything else but the Eagle, Commander of G-Force… As a young man of twenty-three years, life was showing him he had to fight for more, to really live. He was no longer a teenager. If the only time in life was that moment with her now, he'd take it.
Bringing his thoughts back to present, his heart hammering, he slipped out from his hiding spot, and walked back up the path to the cottage to wait for her.
Picking up the axe he pulled a couple of the larger logs off the covered pile to take his mind off almost losing her.
The manual labour of chopping wood was therapeutic. After a while he started to sweat as the heat rose with midday approaching- pulling off his shirt, and tucking it into his back pocket he continued his work rearranging the wood pile, taking some inside of the cottage. Reminding himself of some repairs needed to do on the place over the summer. The mundane tasks allowed him to relax his thoughts.
Thump, chop, thump, chop… he had a steady rhythm going, splinters flying around him as the sturdy axe whistled through the air.
He spotted her strolling merrily up the path, looking carefree even softly smiling, her hands were tucked inside of the long sleeves, the hoodie thrown back, her messy hair hung loosely framing her heart shaped face, she looked adorable.
He burned the memory of the moment, into his mind of a cheerful Swan wearing his clothes glowing with pinked cheeks on an early spring day.
The changes he had observed fell away from her in that moment. She became her old self again.
When their eyes met, her glowing smile broadened.
"The waterfall is beautiful. I wonder what it's like in summer." She commented, watching him intently as he finished up his work.
A smile played on his lips, all the things he wanted say would probably come out sounding corny or cliché.
Not as beautiful as you look right now…Mmmm… nope, been said in movies a thousand times over… ahhh… he thought trying to find something clever to say. He almost blurted out… you've been there before, swimming in a sexy red bikini, not long before you vanished. It was high summer and we had a fun day together… I came close to caving into my desires for you while we were wading under the waterfall… I wanted to kiss you so badly.
He regretted not doing it later.
"Those are my clothes." He blurted. Chastising himself silently for saying something so stupid. If it wasn't an order into battle, working on a strategy, and tactics he fumbled with small talk.
"Oh." Embarrassed she looked down, and she started apologising for going through his things.
Awkward, he thought, and tried again.
"No...it's okay…" He scrambled." I mean you can borrow them anytime. They look great on you, the floppy style… messy hair everywhere…"
Sighing he shook his head. "I'm getting all wrong aren't I."
She laughed wholeheartedly. "No… you're not. Its sweet- I know what your meaning to say."
Was that good? He wondered, scratching his head, a few splinters fell out. She giggled harder, a playful glint twinkled in her eye.
Basking in her warmth, it felt like the sun radiating as she watched him. He wanted to stand there and stare enjoying her. Tearing his eyes away he picked up his axe focusing on the task.
He split another log, working on finishing the few he had nearby. She went to pick them up and he stopped her. "I got this."
"I don't mind the way you chop wood, sweaty and…" She flirted with her eyes biting her bottom lip, a lopsided smile crossed her lips.
Looking down at his chest, feeling the beads of sweat on his brow, he hesitated, he had forgotten about his shirt.
He felt a fine dusting of wood chips falling into his hair. Laughing she ducked as he playfully swiped her for it. Shaking his head, wood chips flying everywhere.
" That's a moment I won't forget." Her coy expression sent him to jelly.
The lightness of the atmosphere between them filled his heart with joy. Sneaking around behind her, he picked up a handful, pulled out her jumper and dumped them. Squirming she wiggled her bottom to get the chips out of the jumper, giggling the whole time.
They played around the pile, and he was careful with her, laughing she told him she wasn't a china doll, as he gently touched her waist, standing behind her.
She pulled his arms around her tight, pressing against him- he drew in a long breath. Her feminine scent mixed with pine needles drove him wild, she smelt good. They stopped for a moment, caught up in her being close he leaned down his breath on her neck, he lightly kissed her throat, as she tilted her face up to his. Bringing his hand on her waist, she guided him with her fingers, lifting the jumper enough for him to touch her warm flesh.
She reached up and touched his cheek, the intimacy and her fingers caressing his flesh unleashed his deep aching for her, feeling his body responding. Drawing closer, he could feel the warmth of her breath in his mouth. He moved his hand further under the warm jumper. Her mouth opened slightly cherry lips enticing him to kiss her.
How often had he dreamed of this moment? She was so close…
His lips brushed hers, her tongue inviting him to deepen the kiss, a deep yearning drew him in like a magnet. Shaking like a leaf in his arms she took the initiative, a soft moan escaped her lips. He melted as she drew him in in deeper, turning slightly in his embrace her moist lips and searching tongue weakened his knees, her hands on his sweaty chest. He moved his hand up without thinking up to her chest brushing the curve of a soft naked breast playing with a tender nipple, as the fire ignited between them, he wanted to do more than kiss her- He froze with those thoughts.
He hesitated, drawing back slightly- she felt it.
His heart pounding like a hammer, he gently pulled away releasing his arms from her waist leaving an awkwardness between them. His heart still thumping he worked to bring himself down from an emotional high.
She paused, questioning him with her eyes, as the tender moment between them shattered.
He was conscious of his lack of a shirt, it became his excuse.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I forgot to put my shirt on." He apologised sheepish. There was as time if he was shirtless, Prin would have turn away blushing like a school girl, instead of openly enjoying it with her fingers caressing him.
"You didn't embarrass me… you kissed me what was wrong with it." Bluntly drawing herself upright she marched away from him towards the cottage. "You enjoyed it." He tried to speak but nothing came out. She picked up the towel off the porch and threw it at him.
Spying the duffle bag on the porch, she faked a smile. "Time to get back to work Eagle."
He flinched internally. He blew it.
"It appears so." He tried to stay casual, and not stare into her eyes, guilt lurking like an intruder…
Another day, another mission. Time to get his head on straight and focus.
"Not before we eat. I have some vegetable soup ready, I made it from the supplies I found this morning." She informed him, still frowning. The Spectran assassin was back again.
"I'll get changed, it looks like we're leaving soon." She indicated to the cottage. "I'd like a shower. Woodchips are scratchy."
"I'll help you with the bandages, you have to keep it dry as much as you can." He reminded her as she headed inside.
"I'll be okay with them. I promise to make sure it's dried properly." She said.
Ouch, he thought. She was becoming cooler.
He followed her inside with an armload of wood, depositing it onto the indoor woodpile, he joined her at the table.
They ate in silence, glancing at each other over spoons of chunky soup. He wanted to try and explain his actions. He couldn't without embarrassing himself, his male pride was on the line.
What guy admits to being in his twenties…and…ahhh…not going there once because he was duty bound and had ideals. Women had assumptions, of a man being confident and experienced, when it came to the bedroom, it could lead to disappointment for her.
She stood up silently, cleaned her bowl and strolled into the bathroom. Holding her Spectran uniform in her arms, a reminder of what Mala had stolen.
She stopped in the doorway frowning, her eyes met his. They didn't need words.
"Is there something I should know?" She mused. "It's been a few months since we saw each other… I suppose you moved on… Unless-"
"Not sure what you mean?"
"Are you gay… prefer men?"
"What?" He gawked, stunned, no one had ever asked him that question. "No… I…no I'm into girls."
"Oh…" She responded briskly. "Well, at least that's out in the open."
He didn't like how that came out, fumbling with the zip of the bag he worked to change the topic before it grew more awkward.
He pulled out his disguise, holding the blue sports jacket she grasped his plan. "What if they…see through it? "Her eyes held concern. Cosplaying and mimics had been his favourite hobby since they were kids. What used to be a game between the five of them, trying to guess who he was pretending to be, became useful in the war against Spectra for more serious purposes.
"Wait and see, have your shower." He grinned.
Taking his stash into the bedroom he changed into his disguise. She thought that I was gay, why would she think it?
She emerged half an hour later, back in her uniform, damp hair pulled into braids down her back.
The jagged slashes in the blood-soaked leather, reminded him of almost losing her again.
Prin's eyes went wide." You look amazing."
"Thank you." He responded maintaining his serious iron clad face.
"What's that stuff on your face?" He asked.
"Make-up." She tartly responded. "It's the Spectran alternative to a mask. I found some make-up in a draw."
Dark circles of smoky eyeshadow surrounded her eyes forming a mask, along with a web like design artistically drawn across her heart-shaped face. A dark spider featured in the elegant web her cheek. Her ivory skin made the design more vibrant, along with her scarlet lips.
She looked hauntingly beautiful. The make-up made her green eyes stand out like jewels.
"Really." He was surprised. "Where?"
"Your lover left it there I suppose. From her last visit." A hint of jealousy in her tone, she tried to hide it by waving a casual hand. She indicated to a draw in the bedroom.
"I don't have a girlfriend I told you that. It must have been one of my brother's girlfriends, make-up." He sighed, she thinks I'm seeing someone. "I haven't cleaned out much since I started coming here…. You have to trust me sometime."
Prin was never this insecure. He pondered.
She forced a smile, she appeared worried. "It's not like… I… well… we're good friends, right?"
"Yeah…good friends, who go on dates." He reminded her warmly grinning. He'd told her the truth about the make-up. "I'm single… not gay or otherwise—I'm focused on saving the Federation."
You're more than a friend to me… He thought ducking his head he wanted say more of how he felt.
Her response was silence, she was clasped her hands, fidgeting. "Promise me something."
"What?" He said.
The growing wall between them worried him.
Say something, he chided himself. You're pushing her away.
"Forget it, it's not important." She dismissed it. "I know you can't promise me anything. You're Federation and I'm Spectran."
"I can make you a promise." He said, pulling off the glasses." I won't ever abandon you. I'd die saving you even if I die too… even if you try to kill me...No matter what happens."
She swallowed a lump in her throat, her eyes glistened. "Don't say things like that. It's getting too complicated for us. If it ends badly…"
"I just did and I mean it." His heart on his sleeve, he wanted her to understand she wasn't alone.
"I was going to ask you to promise me the opposite, if something happens, do what you need to do, even if it involves my death...you've done enough for me." She turned away from him, blinking back tears.
Changing her posture, her tone became more business-like. "I think we can pull this off. Mark… when we go into the base… follow my lead, resist like a real prisoner, call me names if you have too." She informed him adjusting his collar, he could tell she wasn't keen on him doing this.
She filled him in on her plan, it was simple enough for him, less risks the better. He didn't know where she was taking him.
He saw one flaw in her plan. If he escapes, she risked punishment anyway.
"It can't be you taking me there, is there someone else-"
"Why not? You're my prisoner its expected."
"I see your point. But-"
"You're arguing with me, that's so sweet." She playfully smirked.
"Prin-" He started to say.
"You can't call me that in the army." She turned serious.
"I know… what do I call you? "He asked, she had never given him a name really.
"Bitch, whore, slut, Spectran snake…spider… it's what prisoners call me often, the worse things I don't want to repeat."
"Chief doesn't use that language, and neither do I."
"I'm considered Mala's favourite- " She warned him, and drawing in a deep breath, she appeared nervous.
"I know why you are her favourite?" His demeanour darkened, a wry smile spread across his lips. She chose to ignore it. This made him more suspicious, he was only scraping the surface of what had been happening to her.
He hoped on this mission he could prevent her from being hurt, if she appears successful by her handing in 'Chief Anderson.'
He reached out and squeezed her hand. This time she didn't pull away.
He knew the risks, thrived in it- but when it came to his team in danger he often hesitated in the past, especially in the early days of the war.
"I'm doing it for you." He momentarily looked into her eyes- She didn't know what to say.
"Got it," He acknowledged her run down on the mission. "You still have healing wounds, be careful."
Her eyes sparkled in the morning sunlight like dewdrops on a leaf, her ebony hair caught in a neat braid, warmed his heart- he felt alive.
She stood waiting for him to walk with her. "I know you underneath that disguise."
She reach out curling her fingers with his, they began walking to the airstrip at the foot of the hill.
"Time to go." He replied evenly, ready for his role, as they jumped into the small plane.
"I'll direct you where, to land, from that point on we'll be going to a base that was to be my rendezvous point with the Chief." Frowning she gazed out the window.
"It's important to Spectra right?" He questioned. They had been searching for their main base. Without satellite access, they hadn't found any clues.
"Yes." She said as he lifted off. "There is protocol from bringing you in. Be prepared for it, I know you won't like."
"Like what?"
"I have to bag your head once we reach Spectran transports, make sure you don't know where you are."
He expected it, nodding to indicate he understood.
"Mala will be contacted on the way in. She'll want to see you soon. But she will have to learn to live with disappointment."
"What aren't you telling me?"
"I'm not sure how your team are going to find you."
"They will be there on time trust me. I've got a few things in play." He grinned. "Jason knows he's on standby in command."
Prin's frown deepened, he reached over to touch her shoulder. A mild smile played on her lips from his touch.
He had made a decision regarding this mission, he knew the stakes had become higher for her even with none of her memories recovered he wanted back in the federation where they could help her. He'd find a way to bring her back with him.
The plane levelled, and together they left for the Spectran army.
