Disclaimer and A/N: This is a work of fiction. I do not own, have any holdings, nor profit from anything He-Man, She-Ra, and MOTU nor Filmation, Mattel, or MYP related.
A/N Hello He-Man readers. I started writing this chapter over a year ago, while finishing Hellcat. In that story, I had touched upon Marlena going back to Earth to enlist help from her home planet to defeat Skeletor and Hordak. This prompted me to write a separate story for our courageous and noble Queen Marlena. Furthermore, in both my previous stories I focus significantly on Teela's and the Sorceress relationship. Therefore, I decided to write a story chronicling both the Queen's and the Sorceress's trials and tribulations as they become the heroic mothers we adore.
"Marlena Sofia Glenn, you come back here right this second", a woman in her mid 40's called out to a wraith of a child with flowing reddish/brown mousey hair and bulbous hazel eyes.
The young child, hearing her mother's demand stopped in her track fear coursing through her system. However, she quickly continued her need to pursue her goal far surpassing the fear of incurring her mother's wrath. Her excitement over tonight's proposed celestial event was so great, she had jumped out of her dinner seat when her eyes landed on the clock hanging on their kitchen wall. Her hunger forgotten, she dashed out of the backdoor into her sprawling back yard.
It was not yet fully dark, the large red setting sun could be seen lowering its heavenly mass into the horizon. Marlena loved this time of day, when darkness soon blanketed the Earthen sky revealing all the wondrous glory hidden from her view during daylight hours.
Tilting her head backwards, she spun around breathing in deeply the warm honeysuckle fragrance permeating the night sky. Stopping mid-turn she turned to look at her house, seeing her mother standing on the porch her flowing white apron billowing in the air.
"But mom", she whined as she stomped her foot, "I'm going to miss the meteor shower."
"You haven't touched your dinner", her mother reminded her. "If you want to be an astronaut like your father, you need to grow."
"I'm too excited to eat", the young girl responded.
By that time, the sun settled beyond the horizon the evening now draped in blackness. Within minutes, the sky was filled with an unimaginable phenomena as hundreds of streaking tails of cosmic dust appeared overhead.
To Marlena's young impressionable mind, nothing had ever come close to amazing her as much as tonight's marvelous spectacle. Staring into the heavens above she tried following the path of the meteors as they flew overhead. She desperately wished that she had a telescope so that she could have a magnified view of this spectacle. She knew that if her father was home, he would had set up his telescope to share this special moment with her.
Marlena aspired to follow in her father's footsteps, becoming one of the first female astronauts. In her heart she knew that one day she would be able to see meteors, comets, and the rest of the planets first hand.
"Well, here I am." "You wanted this woman, now deal with it", Marlena scolded herself. As she reminisced of one of the very first times she observed a heavenly marvel, she was actually suspended in mid-air in a tree her now fuller frame supported by the thin straps of her parachute. Marlena had blossomed into a beautiful woman with glowing auburn hair she wore cut in a fashionable bob just below her jaw line. Long brown lashes framed her almond shaped eyes, her full eyebrows making her look more distinguished than her young twenty-one years of age.
Looking below her, she gazed on the fir covered ground several hundred feet below. She knew she had to cut herself loose; however, she was too high to make a safe jump without breaking a couple of bones something she was loathe to do as she had healed from a broken right elbow just last year.
Marlena had proved to be a handful for her parents. She was extremely smart, too bright actually to do well in school. Her free spirited independent personality ensured she was extremely popular but at the same time, she had the tendency of rubbing people the wrong way. This had forced her parents to discharge her from her community public school and to be home-schooled.
By the time she was ready to enter high school, her father had climbed the ladder in his position with the United States Air Force as Lieutenant General. The family had relocated to Lompoc, California so that they could be closer to his new station with the Vandenberg Air Force Base. To Marlena's delight this put her closer to one of NASA's launch sites, making a dream come true.
Enrolling in one of the top private high schools, she graduated top of her class. To her parents' delight she excelled in all of her classes showing a proclivity in science and mathematics.
Two years later, she said goodbye to her beloved family, as she was accepted into the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. To the just barely sixteen year old Marlena, the world was her oyster. She knew that completing this highly rigorous academic/military program would open many doors for her.
However, it wasn't easy despite how smart or fit she was. And she was in top physical condition, as she was very athletic from a very young age. At that time, there weren't many female cadets. Her fellow classmates, largely males entering adulthood teased her mercilessly, mostly because she refused to date any of them.
Marlena didn't have time for boys. She wanted to finish the program as soon as possible to return to her home in California with an opportunity to find employment with NASA. She didn't doubt that with her triple major in physics, aeronautics, and astronautics she would be one of the best candidates for a brand new program aimed at reaching the outer limits of the Milky Way. Marlena religiously kept abreast on news from NASA, her father mailing her updated newsletters weekly.
She completed her course work in four years. Currently, she was enrolled in a field practicum requiring her to dive out of a plane. The thrill of free falling was very exhilarating. The landing not so much. She had to figure out a way to make it to the ground.
Suddenly an idea came to her. She knew from her studies that she could move her body in a way to give her a pendulum motion. If she created enough momentum, she could probably rock herself closer to the tree trunk so that she could wrap her legs around it before cutting herself free from her parachute.
Deciding that was the best course of action, she began swinging her legs backwards and forwards gaining speed with each swing. With one final heave, she propelled her entire body towards the center of the tree. "Eureka", she exclaimed when she made contact with the tree trunk. Quickly wrapping both legs around it, she then reached upwards with a pocket knife preceding to cut herself loose. Looking beyond her, she saw her field mates in similar precarious situations.
Finally free from the parachute straps, she wrapped her arms around the branch on top of her as she slowly inched her upper body to meet her lower body. When she was able to grasp the tree with both her lower and upper extremities, she began scooting herself downwards.
Stopping a few feet above ground, she jutted her legs outwards holding onto the tree with just her arms. Counting to three in her head, she abruptly released her arms as she prepared for her landing.
With a soft thud, Marlena landed on her feet bending her knees low to the ground to absorb the shock of the landing. Straightening up, she turned around to salute her superior who was standing by a stationary chopper.
She did it. Marlena Sophia Glenn had completed part of the final assessment needed for graduation. In her heart, she knew she had a long way to go, but overcoming this obstacle gave her the strength and confidence to face the rest of them.
Once her superior indicated for her to be at ease, she jogged over at him coming to stand next to him. Together, they waited for the rest of her classmates to complete this test. None were to happy to see that she, a girl two years their junior had bested them once more.
Returning to their base after a short helicopter flight, Marlena received a missive that her presence was required in the Presidential Dining Room. Off course, she had no idea who requested her presence as the note held no clue to the person's identity.
Walking confidently to the designated location, she pushed open the two wooden doors entering the dining room before coming to a sudden stop. In front of her was a man she recognized from the many newsletters had father had send her.
Amazement made her stand there gawking at the tall broad shouldered man standing before her. Suddenly, remembering protocol she snapped her heels together bringing her right hand to her temple as she saluted the man she knew to be the President of NASA.
"Cadet Marlena, it is a pleasure to meet you", she heard him state.
"Sir, Yes, Sir", she responded in typical army fashion.
"At ease, cadet", she heard the President of the University state. "Do you recognize our visitor?", she heard him ask.
Nodding her answer, Marlena walked closer to the two men addressing her. Holding out her arm, she shook both of theirs vigorously.
"Come dine with us", the University President stated as he held a chair out for her. His actions surprised the young cadet, as she did not expect these gentlemanly actions from the Headmaster. This was after all a military school and she was never treated like a lady. His actions brought fear into her heart as she wondered at their meaning.
As soon as she was seated, both men sat opposite of her as the dining room staff brought in their lunch. Surprisingly, the entire dining staff was dressed in full uniform. Obviously, the dining staff had expected this sudden but very important luncheon and they were out to impress.
Marlena's gaze followed the dining room staff's movements as they lay out the dishes, utensils, and finally food. Taking her clue from the men seated with her, she waited until the server's had left the dining room before engaging in conversation.
The university's president was the first to speak. "Cadet, you must be wondering what this conference is all about?"
Keeping her gaze steady with his she answered, "Yes, sir."
"Please call me Dr. Albert", he continued. "Marlena, Dr. Scriptare", he said using the leader of NASA's name, "and I are here to discuss a very special new aeronautical mission with you."
Straightening her back even more, Marlena's full attention was now on the president of NASA.
"You come very highly recommended from your superiors, professors, and Dr. Albert", the distinguished leader stated to her.
Marlena couldn't help but feel a rush of blood coloring her cheeks. Never in her young mind did she ever imagine that the esteemed leader of such a famed and powerful organization would be complimenting her. His words kept her speechless. She wondered why those from her university would discuss her merits with the leader of NASA.
Continuing he added, "You see, we need someone young." "Someone who is unafraid to take risks, someone who excels in the top of their class." "This someone is you."
Swallowing her excitement at the opportunity presenting itself she spoke, "Sirs, with all due respect what is the mission and why me?"
"Let me answer the second part of your question first", Dr. Scriptare answered. "Five months ago, I had reached out to Dr. Albert for his recommendations." "I've already met with the other recommended candidates, but I can tell already that the university has kept the best candidate for last." "I watched how you used your physical abilities as well as your mental capacity to solve today's problems out on the field." "I've reviewed your scholastic portfolio." "You excel in all of your subjects." "I've spoken to your father and he's assured me that you are a huge risk taker." "Marlena, we are looking for someone who is not afraid to go after what they want."
Taking a deep breath he continued, "The mission is classified." "What I can tell you is that whichever cadet is chosen will have an opportunity to go into uncharted areas of space." "I presume you are interested in visiting outer space?"
He had just dangled the golden goose in front of her. Marlena didn't know the specifics of her mission nor did she really understand why they thought she was good enough for the recommendation, but she knew one thing. This was what she was waiting for. Her father was right. She was a huge risk taker. She feared nothing. Perhaps, that was why she outshined the rest of the candidates. Perhaps not. Right now that didn't matter too much for her.
Raising her head she asked, "When do we begin?"