Chapter 49
The G-Force team remained on the Planet Spectra as Zoltar and Mala's guests. Tiny brought the Phoenix to Spectre City, amid much fanfare and celebration, and less than twelve hours after that, Chief Anderson and President Kane arrived as well, accompanied by an army of Federation diplomats and administrators.
Despite being a mere formality, the peace talks between the Spectran Empire and the Federation lasted for three days, during which time the entire G-Force team was treated to a tour of the natural beauty of Spectra, although the only 'natural beauties' Jason seemed to be interested in were the crowds of Spectran girls following the Condor wherever he went. Tiny, too, appeared to have his share of female admirers, many of whom brought him Spectran delicacies to sample, while Keyop was adored by the children of Spectra.
However, no women approached the Commander, and in fact, the Spectrans maintained a respectful distance from the Eagle and the Swan, although the pair was often presented with gifts befitting an engaged couple. While Mark was embarrassed by this form of attention, Princess always managed to accept the offerings with grace and an elegant smile, endearing her to the citizens of Spectra even more.
Mark had not thought it possible, but he found that his love for Princess had grown more as well. Now that the weighty responsibility of the security of the Federation was no longer on his shoulders, the Commander found himself with plenty of time to admire the Swan's charms.
Certainly there was no lack of qualities for Mark to appreciate about Princess.
On the third day of the peace talks, the entire G-Force team was honored at a grand parade through Spectre City. The team had once been invited to ride in a Federation parade, but they had had to send robotic duplicates of themselves in their stead, for fear of Spectran assassins. But now they reveled in the honest adulation of the Empire's citizens, and found themselves growing fond of the Spectran people in return.
Once the peace treaty was signed, the G-Force team boarded the Phoenix and returned to Earth with Chief Anderson and President Kane. The President congratulated them on a job well done, and indeed, the planets of the Federation held their own celebrations to honor the hard work and dedication the team had exhibited throughout the duration of the war.
The members of G-Force were presented with an array of medals and awards, ranging from the key to Center City, to the Galactic Cluster Medal, which was presented by President Kane himself.
Two days after the end of these festivities, the five members of the G-Force team walked into Galaxy Security Chief William Anderson's office, marching in unison with military precision.
In one fluid motion, five arms extended and rotated in front of five bodies, giving the Chief a bare second to cover his face before a blinding flash of white light filled the room.
Chief Anderson opened his eyes to see the faces of five young people⦠his children⦠whom he had come to love with a depth and intensity that surprised even him. The Chief could not prevent a tear from slipping down his face as he saw four of those five children remove their communicators from their left wrists, passing them reverently to the fifth.
Mark stood, staring down at the four communicators in his hand for a moment, before removing his own and adding it to the pile. Carefully, he placed them all on the desk, in front of Chief Anderson.
"My last official act, as Commander of G-Force, is to tender the resignation of the entire team." Mark said solemnly, as he stepped back from Anderson's desk.
"I accept your resignation." the Chief replied formally, gathering up the communicators and locking them inside the high security safe embedded in the wall of his office.
"It is with great pleasure that I declare you all to now be private Federation citizens." Anderson smiled.
The five young people in front of the Chief's desk grinned, looking at each other with undisguised pleasure.
"Then my first act, as a private Federation citizen, is to do this." Mark said, stepping over to Princess. Without a moment's hesitation, the former Eagle took the former Swan into his arms, bringing his mouth to hers for a lingering kiss.
When the pair finally broke apart, it was to see four congratulatory faces smiling back at them, even as clapping and whistling broke out around the room.
"I love you, Princess." Mark declared, loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"I love you, too, Mark." Princess replied. She stood quietly for a moment, looking around at the Chief and her former teammates, before speaking again, a gentle flush covering her cheeks.
"Now, I don't suppose we could carry on this conversation somewhere a little more private?" she asked.
