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Chapter 2 - Jalikapo

Hours later, Tony and Poltious landed on the planet of Jalikapo. The hanger they were directed to was the largest thing on the ground that Tony had ever seen in his life. Lewis met them as they turned off the ship. He opened the gang plank and limped inside.

Poltious saw his friend and they embraced.

"Oh wow. I hadn't heard you had returned. Mageer?"

"An honorable story that will be told for generations." Poltious insisted.

Tony smiled and shook Lewis' hand. "Could you take me to Pepper?"

Lewis nodded, "Certainly. Lartius seems insistent that you will remain here for the night."

Tony looked confused. "Why?"

"I have no idea. He plans to meet you before you see Pepper. She's busy getting ready for your arrival."

Tony crossed his arms. "What the hell does that mean?"

Lewis laughed. "This is Jalikapo. Things are a bit…..different here, mate."

"Such as?"

"Okay. Well, you and Pepper…are not married. So, you may stay in the same suite, but not sleep in the same room."

Tony laughed and rubbed his head. "Okay. Old values. Got it. What is she doing? Having ladies' maids attend to her?"

Lewis nodded, "Yes. She is."

Tony shook his head and walked over to pick up a black, overnight bag he had brought. He put it on his shoulder and turned to shake Poltious' hand. "I guess that I'll see you in the morning."

Poltious nodded. "Have a pleasant evening, Tony."

Lewis walked with Tony down the gang plank. "Licis will need to remain in the med bay for a while longer. He suffered a concussion."

"What happened with that?"

Lewis put his hands in his pockets as they walked together to a lift. "We were leaving the castle as it was hit. A stone struck him on the top of his head."

"How the hell did you get him on the ship? Your leg-"

Lewis pointed at Tony, who just had noticed Lewis was walking with a slight limp. "Pain medicine. I'm on a lot of it. John is going to shout at me proper when he sees what I've done to it. I can feel it now. It's not good."

Tony sighed as they descended many floors from the hanger. When the lift opened, Lartius greeted him. "And he's here! Welcome to Jalikapo!"

Tony and Lartius embraced one another. Lartius nodded at Lewis. "I'll show him to his room. You. Med bay."

Lewis bowed his head and stepped back in the lift. "Tony. Don't leave without me and my brother tomorrow."

Tony smiled. "Need a ride home, huh? I've got you."

Lewis chuckled and the doors closed shut. Lartius smiled back at Tony. "First of all, I am very sorry to have frightened you."

Tony pointed at him. "I have heard that you have done that to everyone-"

Lartius shrugged his shoulders, "And yet. People still fall for it. It's amazing. My grandchildren tell me that I need a new trick."

Tony shook his head. "I'm going to work on something for you. I won't fall for that again."

Lartius laughed. "Good man."

They walked down the stone hallways together. One side of the hallway was open and Tony could feel the cool air in his hair. He wished he had brought a jacket. He looked over the edge and saw the building he was in wasn't a building at all. It was pathway that was carved on the side of a mountain. Waterfalls and trees decorated the walls that went down as far as he could see. People where moving back and forth through the hallways that were cut into the mountain. On the other side, he saw more of the same. At the bottom, a large river roared. Several large boats sat anchored below.

Lartius leaned on the railing and looked over the city with him. "Jalikapo is one of the most beautiful places in the galaxy. Fitting that the most beautiful people live here."

Just as he said that, several girls smiled at Tony and Lartius as they walked by them. Tony's mouth dropped open. He looked back at Lartius. "Wow."

"Indeed, my friend." Lartius pat his shoulder and they continued to walk down the hallways together. "This place is very unique. You'll see why when you reach your room. It is one of the most beautiful places here."

Lartius stopped in front of a round, wooden door in the wall. "Your Princess is behind this door. This is your room. Now, when I say it's your room, I mean it's yours. You are always welcome here and this is your place."

Tony shook his head in surprise and smiled. "Really?"

"A gift. For a very special night. But, I also remember you telling me that you and your Princess had few places to come and relax. Now you do. Whenever you like. Enjoy it my friend. And congratulations." He pat his shoulder and walked away. "Please send for me before you leave in the morning."

Lartius was followed by a tall man who nodded to Tony and followed his King. No doubt, a Quauhtin bodyguard.

Tony couldn't believe it. He stood at the door and looked at it. It was perfectly round and sat in the stonework. Vines and flowers hung next to it. The doorknob sat in the center of the door. He laughed, "I've been given a Hobbit hole."

He twisted the knob and walked inside. The room looked like something out of the Lord of the Rings. The floor was dark wood with carvings and stonework everywhere. The room was wide and round with a dark red rug that lay on the floor under wooden furniture that wouldn't looked out of place in a palace. A balcony, directly in front of him, gave the view of a waterfall that roared loudly in the room.

Standing, looking at the waterfall, wearing a lovely white dress that went to the floor, was Pepper. She hadn't noticed he had arrived. No doubt the waterfall had muffled all sound. Her red hair was down and he couldn't help but wonder if she was wearing a dress, or a gown. He had never seen her in anything like it.

He sat down the bag he carried in a chair, and walked to her. The waterfall was so loud, he was only inches from her when she noticed he was there. She quickly grabbed him and they held one another tightly. Relieved she was really alright, and back in his arms, he kissed her cheek and breathed a sigh of relief. He closed his eyes tightly and breathed in her scent. Nothing ever quite smelled like she did. He felt her loosen her grip on him. He let her go and she held onto his hands.

She smiled at him and held up a finger to tell him to wait just a moment. She pressed a button and the large opening of the balcony closed itself in with glass, silencing the waterfall. He couldn't help the smile on his face. "You're really here."

She laughed back at him. "You are a mess, Tony. Have you slept at all?"

"To busy to sleep." He told her.

"What were you doing?" She teased.

"Being worried about you. You're really, alright?" He touched her face with his fingertips and she wiped the tears from his eyes.

She smiled proudly at him. "Lartius would report there is not a scratch on me. He offered to inspect me, and I refused. I'm not entirely sure he was kidding."

He chuckled at her. "I might need to teach you how to break someone's arm."

"What?" She laughed.

He shook his head. "Poltious and I needed something to do on the ride out."

"Poltious? So, he found Mageer?"

"He did."

"Soli?"

"Is still with us. Well, he's with John, but….I'll explain it all later. I…just…want to stand here and look at you."

She smiled and stepped towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed him. He put his hands on her hips and returned the kiss. He smiled at her. "My God, you scared the hell out of me."

"Tony. I'm so sorry we frightened you. It was necessary to keep us safe."

He held both of her hands and brought them to his mouth to kiss. "And you're safe. So, I'll forgive you."

Pepper nodded. "Sounds fair."

He hadn't stopped staring at her since he had came into the room.

"What is it?"

"You….just….I don't know." He took a deep breath and found that he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

She smiled back at him. "You look like you are in a daze."

He continued to look at her. "Sleep walking."

She held his hand and teased. "Come on. I'm going to see if you remember how to walk."

She led him to the right of where they stood. A small, round hallway came into another round room with a circular bed that filled the most of the small room. A table with assorted biscuits and fruits and some sort of bottle of what had to be wine, sat in ice.

"Lartius explained to me that for us to share a bed here, is-"

"Forbidden." He finished her sentence.

"So, this is my room. Yours is just on the other side of the main room. But, he also told me that we won't have any servants or ladies maids here until tomorrow. He has seen to that."

"So, I just have to sneak back to my room." Tony nodded. "I can to do that. Alright."

She laughed, "And look at this." She turned and pressed a button on the wall. A glass moved down and Tony heard the relaxing sound of the small stream that fed the waterfall. When he stepped closer, he could even see the stream, just inches below the window, running through the cavern.

Pepper smiled. "This is such an amazing place."

"Lartius told me it was ours. A gift."

"Really?"

Tony nodded. "Yes. I told him that we don't really have a place to relax and get away from everything. He's insisted this is where we can now. Anytime we want."

Pepper smiled. "Wow. Tony, this is just….such a beautiful place."

He looked around the room. He saw the carvings in the walls of beautiful women and in the corner, was a large lovely carved wooden wardrobe. Another round opening led to a smaller room. He noticed a wave of heat and saw a fireplace was lit in the corner.

Pepper pointed to where he was looking. "That's a bathroom. And the toilet is….just….so strange."

Tony laughed, "Really? An alien toilet."

She walked over to the table with the sweets. "Yes. I can't wait to hear what you will say about it."

Tony picked up the bottle of the odd wine. "We have to be careful. You and that strawberry problem."

"That's why I asked you to bring that blue bag. Did you?"

He sat the wine back down in the ice. "Yes. It's in the other room. I'll just go grab it for you."

Pepper ate another one of the white, cupcake looking sweets. He was back in a flash. He sat the black overnight bag on the bed and unzipped it. He pulled out a bottle of champagne and brought it over to the table. "There. Safe champagne. I know you can drink that."

Pepper smiled, "Thank you. That's so thoughtful."

"Do you want me to switch them?"

"Sure."

He put the champagne he had brought into the ice for it to chill. Pepper walked over to the pack and took out a small, blue make-up bag.

Tony's phone suddenly rang in his pocket. He took it out and smiled when he saw it was the Doctor ringing him.

He accepted the call. The Doctor and Soli's face filled up the screen.

"And you have great timing, guys." Tony laughed.

"Well, I am a Time Lord." The Doctor teased.

Soli laughed, "And I am….well. Anyway. I wanted to know if you arrived safely."

Tony nodded. "I have. Poltious brought us around an odd way to avoid another storm. I never knew that was such a problem with space travel."

The Doctor nodded, "You would be amazed."

Soli asked, "Where is the princess?"

He sat down next to Pepper on the bed. She waved at the phone. "Hello, Soli. Are you helping John?"

The Doctor nodded, "He's been a huge help. We're awaiting the arrival of Summus in a few hours. You both would be very proud of him."

Tony shook his head. "I'm already proud of him. He doesn't have to do anything for that."

Soli smiled proudly and Tony felt Pepper hug his arm.

The Doctor put his arm around the little boy. "So, we're just in time. What's up?"

Tony stood up. "Okay. Well, they sent food to our room."

The Doctor nodded. "Yeah?"

"Is there anything we need to avoid here?"

"Oh! That's a good question. Well, let me see what's there."

Tony slowly panned the screen so the Doctor could look at everything. "Let me see those small cakes. Just there."

Tony held the phone at the cakes. "She's already eating those, so I hope-"

"Nah, that's fine. The wine is….interesting. It changes colors. You'll like it, but…only drink one bottle of it. Trust me. It will give you a headache like you've never had before. Way worse than Hebridan."

Tony chuckled, "What is that? Bring some back with you."

Pepper giggled, "The voice of experience there."

Tony laughed. "Alright. We're going to leave here in the morning."

The Doctor thought. "Right. It's about… 7:49 in the evening there. Alright."

"How do you do that?"

"I'm a Time Lord. Anyway. We'll be getting back about the same time then. I think. There's not much left to do here. Genie and Rose are sleeping."

"Well, what time is it there?"

"It's….an odd place. It's about….six in the morning. Close to that. Anyway. Don't forget to bring home Lewis. How's his leg?"

"I'm not getting into that."

"Fine. Ring me when you are on your way home. No, racing."

"I have Poltious-"

"Which is why I'm saying, no."

Soli laughed and waved to them.

The Doctor ended the call.

Tony turned around and groaned. "Do you hear this shit?"

"Why did he want to look at the cakes?"

"They make him hungry, I guess." Tony told her as he opened the odd wine. He poured it into two glasses. It was clear and then turned multicolored as the liquid moved. He picked it up and watched the colors change as he twirled it in the glass. "That's just cool."

He turned and handed her a glass. She looked at the liquid and smiled, "That is the neatest thing."

He sat down next to her on the bed. "To the new Mrs. Stark. Even if she's a secret."

Pepper smiled, "To my husband. My secret admirer."

They clanged the glasses together and sipped the wine.

Tony looked at it in surprise. "That tastes like a…..I've just been punched in the face."

Pepper sat her glass back on the table. "I like it."

He finished his glass and sat it next to hers.

Pepper turned to sit in front of him. She held something small in her hand. "I want to give you something."

"Really? What?"

"Now, you don't have to accept it if you don't want to. I know it's not the sort of thing you are….used to."

He looked at her in confusion.

She looked down in her hands at a simple gold ring. "This was my grandfathers. It's one of the few things I have of his. I've always kept it in my bag where I keep my jewelry since he died. He told me it belonged to his grandfather, and was the only thing, well, besides my grandmother and a grape vine, that he brought to California."

Tony took it in his hand and looked closely at it. "This is really old."

"I know it's not…worth a lot-"

"It was his. It doesn't have a price."

"It's probably not even gold-"

"It is perfect."

She took a deep breath and willed herself not to cry. "You don't even have to wear it-"

"But, I want to."

"It's….engraved on the inside, but I don't know what it says."

Tony cleared his throat and looked at it closer. "Let me see."

"Are you wearing those…things in your eyes?"

He didn't look up from the ring. "No. I know what this is. It's….Irish."

"Big surprise there."

"No, I mean…Gaelic. Hang on. I read this someplace." He looked up at the ceiling and thought. "Okay. I have it."

He looked back at her. She was smiling at him. "Read a book on Gaelic?"

"I thought it would be a good idea when I started dating an Irish lady. This says, 'May you be poor in misfortune and rich in blessings'. It's part of a traditional Irish Wedding blessing that goes: 'May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children's, children. May you be poor in misfortune and rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness, from this day forward.'"

She smiled, "I have never heard that."

"Maybe I'm more Irish than you are." He teased. "Which finger should I wear it on?"

"Well, I'm not sure if it fits." She slipped it on his left hand's ring finger. It fit perfectly.

He looked up at her and smiled. "Well, how about that?"

"That might not have been a good idea. Everyone knows that is the finger you wear a wedding ring on."

Tony shook his head. "I'll move it to my right hand later. Just for now. Tonight, let me wear it here. Alright?"

She smiled. "Alright. Tony you don't have to wear it just to-"

"No. I want to wear it. It's…Jimmy's ring. He's given you to me now. I promise I'll do the best I can."

Pepper smiled. "Me, too."

Tony stood up and poured them another glass of the odd wine. "I'll confess, I'm nervous about this."

"Are you?"

He looked back at her and held out his hand to let her see it shake.

"Why?"

He shook his head. "I really don't know. Although, I did ride out here with Poltious. Maybe his driving has rattled my nerves. Trying to….break my arm."

She giggled at him and stood up. "Try this." She broke a cupcake apart and handed him a bit of it. He put it in his mouth and it seemed to disappear.

He took another one. "Oh, that's weird!"

She laughed. "I've probably ate about twelve of these already. I'm going to weigh a thousand pounds."

He broke it in half and held it up for her eat. She smiled and bit it.

He laughed and drank the rest of his wine. He sat down the glass and nodded. "Alright. I'm better. How are you?"

She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling his head to her lips. She began to kiss him slowly. Her familiar touch relaxed him. He slowly sat down on the bed with her and held her close to him as they lay down together.

She whispered to him. "Better?"

He smiled. "Yes."

"It's just me. The only one you can be yourself with. I love you."

He kissed her again and she rolled over on her back. She pulled his shirts off and tossed them on the floor. She ran her hands up his chest and removed her gown that she wore. He watched her, speechless at her beauty.

She wore nothing under the gown, which had surprised him. He met her lips again and lost himself in kissing her. He didn't even notice she had unfastened his jeans until they lay back down. He slipped them off quickly and held her nude body against his own. She tasted the odd wine and sugar from the cakes in his mouth as they kissed one another. She wrapped her leg around him, and he brought his hand down between her legs to tease her. She was already so wet. He moaned.

She put him in her hand and stroked him. He teased her until she rubbed his staff against her opening.

"Wait…wait…just a second." He whispered.

She watched him get up and pour them both another glass of wine. "Two more glasses, and then we'll continue. We only get one wedding night and we need to pace ourselves."

"Going for an all-nighter?" She smiled.

He handed her the glass and smiled. "Oh, yes. All night. What time do I have to be out, My Lady?"

"Eight."

He nodded and set an alarm on his phone. "Alright. 7:30 am. We can do this."

She laughed at him. "I would have never expected this from you."

He sat his phone on the table with the food and then dove into the bed as he laughed hysterically.

She smiled, "That's more like you."

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A woman in dark purple and black robes, walked through the hanger of Jalikapo. Two men, her Quauthin, followed her. She was beautiful, with her long, dark hair that draped down her back. She followed the dock master, who seemed to be leading her to a certain ship.

They reached the base of a new ship, with a circular frame. The dock master pointed to it. "It's just here, ma'am."

She thanked the man and pressed the button to open the ramp. One of the two Quauhtin immediately protested. "Your majesty-"

She turned and pointed at him. "My husband's One is in here. I'm going to speak to him. You may remain here. I will shout if you are needed."

They looked at one another. The Queen walked into the ship.

She looked around and saw a leather boot lying on the floor. The rest of the body it belonged to was inside of a panel, working on something. Poltious complained. "This is mad. Who would hook this up like this?"

She put her hands on her hips and laughed under her breath. Poltious, sensing she was there, quickly climbed out of the panel, stood up, and looked up at her. "Martiea! I mean-"

She pointed at him and smiled, "I'm always Martiea to you. Poltious, you nutter. The last time I saw you, you were just the same. Lying on the floor, on a Laterus ship from the Luta System. Repairing something….you are so much like Lovell."

He stood up and wiped his hands on his trousers. He was shocked she was there.

She smiled at him. "Well, am I wrong?"

"Only about one thing. This is a friend of mine's ship. It's a Trarvis 871, from Ziuria-"

She waved her hand. "You know, I don't know about things like that." She laughed and held her arms out to him. "It is so good to see you."

Poltious looked at her and after a bit of hesitation, he embraced her. As he did, he exhaled slowly. His happiness of seeing her was equal to the pain he felt. She looked so much like her daughter. His Maria. It made his heart ache.

Martiea loosened her hold on him and they sat down on the round bench together. Poltious was grateful for the table in front of him. He leaned on it and willed himself not to be emotional.

Martiea spoke. "Legate and Lenox."

He nodded. "Yes?"

"I couldn't be prouder of them. Or you."

He sighed, "They are their mother-"

"They, are you. The most Honorable Praetor Poltious, Savior to a thousand worlds, the One of the Quauthin King, and protector of the Princess Maria."

He rubbed his hands together and didn't look up at her. "No. I'm not that."

"You are. Maria's death was not your fault-"

"It was."

"You know it was not. Sometimes, there's no one to blame."

"I should have known, something was wrong. It wasn't like when Legate was born."

"I only had Maria, so…I don't know. But, every parent I've ever spoken to says that each one is different. There was no way to have known. There was nothing you could have done. Lartius and I know that. It's time you did, too."

He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. "Thank you, for never telling the boys."

"I agree with your choice in that. So does Lartius."

Poltious propped his head up on his fist and looked at her. "It is good to see you."

She pointed at him forcefully, "And I could slap you for being away for so long. Maria has been gone for-"

"81 years and 7 months."

"That's also how long you have been gone from our lives. Losing Maria was terrible. But, then, you never returned. It was as if we lost you, too."

Poltious shook his head. "I couldn't return."

"The castle is your home-"

"It was her home."

"You lived there for over 400 years-"

"I caused trouble for the family-"

"And we loved it. I'm grateful only a small amount of things you and Lartius ever did is public knowledge. Oh goodness. Do you remember the Zeta Latiri?"

He shook his head and chuckled, "My friend, Tony, tells me there is a Quauthin that serves his family from there. His name is….Arcite?"

"You had them convinced that Lartius was a god."

He smiled, "He was convincing. What with that goofy crown of his father's."

"The royal crown-"

He pointed at her, "Now, don't you start. That entire thing was your idea. I just….carried it out."

She covered her mouth and laughed. "I believe you are right."

He sat back. "I know I am. I had forgotten about that. I've never told the boys that one."

"Thank you. Please don't."

He crossed his arms and laughed. "I don't know why she ever said yes."

"You saved her from so much. In the end, you were there. That's all that I could ask for. Tell me, did she at least see him?"

Poltious nodded his head and fought back the tears. "I asked her if we should name him Lenox or Lartius. She told me she didn't know anyone but trouble makers named Lartius. It seems to have worked out for her."

Martiea smiled, "That sounds like her."

"So, he is Lenox. She held him until she was gone. The doctor there said she wasn't in pain. It was peaceful."

Martiea nodded, "Thank you."

He wiped his tears. "Why are you really here?"

"I've came to invite you to dinner."

He sighed. "With Lartius?"

"It's time this was done. I'm declaring it so. You two are acting like a couple of…..women! We are experts had holding a grudge."

Poltious rose his eyebrows. "Women, huh? We are good looking women at least?"

She stood up, "Of course. This is Jalikapo after all."

He shook his head, "Martiea, I can't face him."

"Explain to me why not."

"Because…."

She pointed at him. "You, are a Quauthin warrior."

He groaned, "You're going to pull rank here?"

She nodded, "If that's what it takes. Praetor Poltious. You will escort me to dinner."

"That's cold."

"And why are you still a Praetor? Why haven't you entered the Trials yet?"

"Colder." He insisted and stood up.

She stood and watched him walk around the table. He sighed and looked back at her, and then offered her his arm. She grinned and took it in her own and they walked out of the ship together.

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