Chapter Seven. The Return of Princess Astra and an Alliance
Princess Astra, daughter of Queen Aura, walked over to Ice Station Earth were Ming and Shanna were waiting for her.
"Princess Astra." Ming stated, "We have been expecting you."
"So this is the Princess Astra the great Ming was telling me about." Shanna glanced at the blonde woman, "daughter of Queen Aura."
"She is also here to get revenge of Flash Gordon because he is the one who killed her mother." Ming told the blue haired warrior.
"So I see." Shanna replied, "We have something in common."
"I would have been able to show up more often," Astra explained, "but Jedda Walker had stolen my original bracelet which I used to control my clay people. I was able to come up with a more powerful bracelet, something that was given to me from the dream dimension of Darkairai. I was very fortunate, and now I am able to resume my goal to destroy Flash Gordon and all that he holds dear."
"Perhaps all three of us would forge an alliance to destroy Flash Gordon as well as the rest of the Defenders of the Earth." Ming suggested.
"An alliance?" Shanna glanced at the tyrant. Astra glanced at him as well.
"Exactly an alliance." Ming replied, "With all three of us joining forces, we shall be the ones that shall destroy the Defenders of the Earth and take conquest of the Earth as well as the rest of the universe."
"And you promise that my brother will be avenged?" Shanna asked.
"Yes." Ming answered, "and Astra's mother as well."
"We shall proceed with this alliance." Astra answered.
"If she agrees," Shanna stated, "then I have no objection to an alliance myself. Just one thing though?"
"And what is that?" Ming asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Why don't we take our next battle to the Defenders to your planet of Mongo?" Shanna suggested, "I am certain there is some traps there that Astra and myself would be able to come up with as we are at that planet."
"I see no objection to her idea." Astra added, "Just as long as my mother gets avenged when this is all over."
"And she shall be avenged," Shanna told the princess, "and so will my brother. I want Flash Gordon to suffer so much just as much as I had suffered for many years, even if it means taking away everything that he holds dear, being his friends, his family, all of that, until he is broken just as I was."
"Precisely why I have his parents as our prisoner at the moment." Astra stated, "they will be the first of our leverage used against Flash Gordon."
"I like the way you think, Shanna Wylee." Ming replied, "Very well. We shall take this next fight to Mongo."
"But sire." Octon objected, "What about the planet Earth?"
"Do not worry, Octon." Ming replied, "I have resources needed from Mongo that will help with our latest plan to bring the Earth to ruins. In the meantime, I need you, Mongor and Garax to keep guard of things here until we have returned from Mongo. Astra and Shanna, some guards will assist you two in taking your current prisoners with us to my ship in Mongo."
At a cell nearby, Lawrence and Norah Gordon were sitting, waiting calmly for either their captors or the rescue that they were hoping for.
"Do not be afraid dear." Lawrence told his wife, "I am certain that our son Steven will help us. He has done so before."
"I know. I know not to be afraid." Norah replied, "Especially knowing that Ming is involved in all this. You did not call our son Flash for nothing. Now he is famously known as Flash Gordon. I have never been so proud."
"I hear footsteps." Lawrence held his wife's hand, "Someone is coming."
They look to see that Shanna and Astra have arrived at their cell with several ice guards in tow.
"You will be coming with us." Astra told the couple, "Ming has plans to take you captive on the Planet Mongo."
"Once we have Flash Gordon right exactly where we want him," Shanna declared, "as well as the rest of the Defenders of the Earth, her mother Queen Aura and my brother Joe will finally be avenged."
"I hope that you realize that our son did not kill your brother and mother." Lawrence replied, "I also hope you realize that Ming is never going to get away with what he is doing. You will be stopped."
"I beg to differ." Shanna chided.
"Take these two to the ship," Astra told the guards, "we are heading over to Mongo."
Shanna, Astra and the guards that took Flash's parents away were unaware that someone was watching from a safe distance and she had also heard . That someone was a female figure. Tomboyish in build, curly brown hair, dark eyes, wearing a brown top, green jacket, tan pants and brown boots. She overheard Ming's plan and was prepared to notify the Defenders of the Earth pronto.
"That was Shanna with them?" the woman said to herself, "They are heading to Mongo. I must notify Zarkov and the Defenders of the Earth immediately."
A/N: This was a short chapter. I know. I was hoping to get in a bit more, but not every chapter in my stories come with the same outcome sadly. My future chapters will have more to them than this one hopefully. Until then, catch you on the flip side. Cheers!