VENGEANCE
The day dragged on longer than usual. Free days often passed in what seemed like minutes, every second being occupied by some fun thing that had been denied to the students during the previous week. However, this free day had not been expected. The professors of the Starcademy had canceled classes for a meeting, leaving all the cadets to fend for themselves. The space cases had met by their usual tree, content to spend the day lazing about the biosphere.
Harlan lay on his stomach, twirling a blade of grass between two fingers. Radu, on his back, watched the clouds roll by and sighed. Clito strummed her harp, Matt tossed a ball into the air and caught it, while Catalina watched the ball go up and down with her eyes. Bova slept, as usual, and Rosie was no where to be seen.
"Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored," Harlan said.
"You should be thankful for days like today," Radu commented.
"Why's that?"
Radu sat up. "Think about it. So far, we've been back for about two years and already we've faced the Spung in a war, gone to Andromeda and become outcasts, gone to Uranus to stop a wedding, broken up numerous fights between Bova and Matt, gone to an isolated planet and barely escaped with our lives, and gone to Yensid to stop a mysterious disease."
Harlan smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Radu lay back down and Harlan sighed again.
"But I'm still bored," he added.
A ball went flying through the air and struck Harlan in the side of the face. He turned sharply to see Catalina grinning at him.
"It's weird how strange things always seem to happen to us," Cat commented. "It's almost as if we're in a holo show or something and stuff has to keep happening to us to keep the audience interested."
Harlan laughed. "Sure, Cat; and I was a Power Ranger in a past life."
Radu seemed confused. "What's a - "
"Never mind," Harlan said quickly.
Suddenly, Bova sat up. His eyes were wide and a strange, dreamy smile was on his face.
"It's lunch time," he said.
As if on cue, the bell rang for the students to proceed to the lunch room. As the space cases walked down the hall, Harlan whispered to Radu.
"It's eerie the way he can do that."
Radu nodded in agreement.
**********
That night, the Starcademy was unusually quiet. Everyone had been ordered to go straight to their bunkrooms after dinner with a lights-out in effect ten minutes after arrival. Curious about the sudden secrecy, several of the cadets tried to ask their teachers why the sudden enforcement of rules. All the professors had been tight lipped in giving answers.
Seated on Harlan's upper bunk, Radu and Harlan watched their fellow cadets march to their respective beds with military precision.
"So, what's going on?" Harlan asked Radu.
The Andromedan looked shocked for a second.
"C'mon," Harlan prodded. "I know you could hear everything the teachers said in that meeting with those ears of yours. What's going on?"
"Don't tell anyone else," Radu said.
Harlan promised.
"The UPP is on alert," Radu told him. "It seems that there have been reports of Spung vessels in the area and the UPP wants everyone ready for a red alert if needed. I guess that means we're going to be training for another possible war instead of regular classes."
Harlan's eyes lit up. "Really? Great! But who's leading the Spung after you killed Warlord Shank?"
Radu shook his head. "I don't know."
**********
Catalina couldn't sleep. She could hear Rosie above her and Clito on the next bunk safely dreaming, but those dreams wouldn't come as easily to her. She was worried about the sudden cancellations of classes for the next few weeks and the equally sudden schedule of rigorous training exercises - as if another war was expected soon.
A thump from outside the girl's dormitory made her completely forget about sleep. Quietly, she slipped out of bed and into her uniform. The thump sounded again; a little bit farther away than before. Catalina crept outside the bunkroom to see what was making the noise.
She saw two Spung. Swallowing a gasp of fear, she hid in a dark corner until they had passed. As they rounded a corner, she saw that they were dragging something behind them. Curiousity getting the better of her, she followed. As she got closer, she saw that it wasn't a something that was being dragged, but a someone! Fearing for the life of the hapless Starcademy cadet that was being abducted, Catalina steeled her nerves and followed the two Spung into their waiting ship.
It took her several seconds for her eyes to adjust to the dimness of the ship and she rested her hand against the wall. To her surprise, it felt venous and strangely familiar. She heard Spung coming a ducked into an open hole in the wall.
**********
Catalina fell out of the hole in a different section of the ship, one that was more familiar to her than any other room anywhere. She was in her old bunkroom - on the Christa! She recognized everything now, even the jump tube she had just slid down. Excitement soon gave way to fear. What were Spung doing on the Christa? What was the Christa doing back at Starcademy?
With a quick look around, Catalina risked calling the one person she knew could answer her questions.
"Thelma!" she whispered.
The android appeared beside her in a split second.
"Catalina!" Thelma gasped. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be trapped on Yensid with Suzee's family?"
"Thelma, what's going on?" Cat asked. "Why are there Spung on the Christa?"
"That is a sad story," Thelma said. "I don't think you would want to hear it."
"Thelma," Cat tried again. "We're at Starcademy. The Spung kidnapped someone from the Academy and brought them here. I snuck on board to try and rescue them, but I think the ship took off."
"Yes," Thelma agreed. "We are currently traveling at faster than light speeds. Unfortunately, Warlord Shett has taken direct control of the Christa so even she can't stop him."
"Taken control?" Cat gasped. "How?"
"Maybe I can help answer some questions," a new voice said.
**********
Radu woke up with a headache. He tried to rub the growing bump on his forehead, but found that his hands were bound tightly behind him. Struggling, he managed to raise himself into a sitting position and could survey his situation.
Besides being bound hand and foot and having a growing headache, Radu saw that he was in a very familiar room. Directly ahead of him was a round, rainbow table and on the wall to his left was a Food Wheel. Shaking his head, he tried to dismiss his conclusion as impossible, but no matter how he looked at it, he knew he was on the Christa again.
Motion at the door made him raise his eyes to see his captors. Two rows of five Spung each marched into the room, lining the doorway like portable walls. From between those two rows came another Spung, dressed in the armour of a Warlord. Radu could hear the hum of the blaster he carried and knew he was in for a shock - in more than one way.
"Well, well, well," the new Warlord said. "Here we have the murderer."
Radu pressed himself against the wall as the blaster stopped inches away from his nose.
"This Andromedan - " he spat the name like a curse, " - destroyed my father and reduced the Spung Empire to half its former glory. Now I, Warlord Shett, Imperial son of Shank, will avenge my father and restore the Empire to its rightful size."
The Spung that formed the two rows cheered and Radu closed his eyes tightly, anticipating the worst. When no pain came, he opened his eyes to see Warlord Shett smiling at him.
"No, puny Andromedan," Shett said. "Your death will not be this painless. You will be taken to our city and brought before the High Council. There, the Emperor himself will determine your fate. As my dear sister predicted 'The Might will always be right'!"
Again, the Spung cheered as Shett aimed his blaster and fired.
**********
"Who are you?" Catalina asked.
The creature that stood before her was one that she had never seen before. The girl appeared to be her own age and had white skin, clear blue eyes, and pointed, upswept ears. She wore her long, pink hair in a high pony tail that drifted down past her waist. She wore a black and white checkered cloak around her shoulders that nearly engulfed her. Catalina could see that it held many pockets in it as well. Her two well formed legs were covered in tight black pants and high boots.
"My name is Gyana," she said. "I was a member of the Christa's crew. My other crewmates were killed, but I was spared because of what I am."
"What are you?"
"I am a Guardian," Gyana explained. "My species roams the universe and protects it from itself. Without us, nothing would run smoothly. Planets would slip off their orbits, pirate would rule the space ways and entire galaxies would implode on themselves. We live in the darkness of space, safe from any species who would want to take advantage of us, like these Spung have done to me."
"How did the Spung get on the Christa?"
"They disguised their ship as a trading vessel in distress and we were compelled to help them. Once they were on board, they quickly took over. My friend were killed and I was trapped on the ship, unable to return to space."
Catalina blinked at the story. She knew the Spung were double crossers, but this had gone too far.
"I told you you would not want to hear the story," Thelma said. "You didn't listen."
"Don't worry, Catalina," Gyana said. "We will set the Christa free again."
"How did you know - ?"
"Your name?" Gyana smiled. "I studied all the old logs from your adventures on the Christa. I know all about you, and the other members of your crew. Thelma has also been quite helpful with details."
Cat smiled back. "Well, there's a Starcademy cadet somewhere on this ship and I have to bring him back. That should be our first priority. We'll worry about Warlord Shett later."
"Oh, I think you should worry about him now," Thelma said.
"Why's that?"
"Because he's heading this way!"
Gyana grabbed Catalina's arm and they both vanished. Warlord Shett walked into the bunkroom to find Thelma standing there alone.
"Android," Shett ordered. "Feed the prisoner and get back to the command post. We need you to direct the ship when we attack."
"Yes, sir," Thelma said enthusiastically. "Right away. Where is the prisoner?"
"In the galley," Shett said impatiently.
Thelma nodded and the angry Spung warlord stalked away. Catalina and Gyana reappeared seconds later.
"You must be a telemorph!" Catalina said, remembering Harlan and Radu's stories about Ubi and the Space Pirate, Reaver.
"I suppose. Teleporting short distances is something all Guardians do," Gyana said with a shrug. "Let's get your friend and get out of here."
Taking Thelma's arm with her other hand, the trio vanished again.
**********
Catalina fumbled in the darkness of the galley. She could sense Gyana beside her and wondered whether or not Guardians could see in the dark. Thelma had been with them a second ago, but she now found that she could hear the android walking around, humming absently to herself. A second later, the lights flared on and Catalina blinked as her eyes readjusted.
"There is your friend," Gyana said, pointing to the ground.
Catalina gasped when she saw the crumpled form on the ground. She rushed towards him and almost cried out when she realized who it was.
"Radu!" she exclaimed, fighting back tears.
The Andromedan was unconscious, but alive. Burn marks on his uniform indicated that he had taken a blaster shot to the stomach. Gyana checked his vitals.
"He is alive. Thankfully, the blaster was set on stun."
"Someone is coming," Thelma reported from the doorway.
Gyana and Catalina both sprang to their feet. Before the Saturnian could say a word, Gyana pushed her into the jump tubes and stood in front of the control panel to hide the glowing buttons. Several Spung marched into the room.
"We have located the Guardian, Warlord Shett," the obvious leader announced, pointing his blaster at Gyana.
"Excellent," Shett's voice came over the comm. system. "Bring her to me and this time, remember to keep the collar on her at all times."
Two Spung guards seized Gyana's wrists as the leader attached a heavy, metallic collar around her neck.
"Come," the leader ordered, yanking the chain. "No more disappearing tricks for you."
**********
From the team room, Catalina turned off the screen. She had observed the entire thing and now felt totally alone. She walked around the familiar room where she had once felt safe and at home. She touched the Minbar chess board and remembered Harlan's bragging as he beat her game after game. Memories of their adventures flooded her senses and the moments she had found comforting while on Yensid or at the Starcademy became alien and cold. Shivering, she knew what she had to do.
Without activating the jump tubes, Catalina crawled back to the galley to wake up Radu.
**********
Catalina stuck her head out of the jump tube and immediately ducked back in. She was in the command post, not the galley. Silently, she peeked over the edge of the tube.
Warlord Shett stood in front of the helm, controlling the ship through a strange metal box. Gyana stood next to him, a metal collar around her neck, and was guarded on both sides. Ten other Spung wandered around the Compost, absently pushing buttons or simply standing still. The view screen was on and a picture of Earth appeared. Catalina could see the UPP patrol ships and two of the five orbiting space stations around the planet. Curiousity getting the better of her, she listened to the Spung's plans.
"The UPP will not respond to our hails," a Spung reported.
Shett hissed. Cat could not tell if it was a laugh or a growl of disappointment. The Spung Warlord pulled on the chain and Gyana stumbled towards him.
"Guardian, clear our path," Shett ordered.
"No," Gyana replied.
Shett leveled a blaster at her.
"Move the ships," he demanded again.
"No," Gyana repeated.
"If you do not do what you are told, you will no longer be needed," Shett warned.
Gyana remained silent and turned her head away from the Spung Warlord.
Shett casually fired and the Guardian crumpled to the ground. Catalina bit the back of her hand to keep from screaming aloud.
"Throw her in the garbage tube," Shett ordered.
The two guards that had been guarding her picked up the limp form and began walking towards the jump tubes. The pushed a random code and dropped her in.
Gyana's body hit Catalina and the two of them went spiraling down the tubes. It took a few minutes for them to reach whatever destination the Spung had programmed before the tubes spat them out. Catalina was pleased to find that they had landed back in the galley. Thelma stood where they had left her, holding a plate of food for Radu.
"There you are," Thelma exclaimed. "I was beginning to think you had left."
Catalina shoved Gyana's body off of her.
"Where would we go, Thelma? We're in space and far from the Starcademy or friends or help," the Saturnian cried.
Thelma put a comforting arm on Cat's shoulders as she cried.
"Gyana could get help," Thelma said.
"She's dead," Cat sobbed. "She's not breathing."
"I do not think she is dead," Thelma insisted.
"How can you be sure?"
"She's moving."
Sure enough, Gyana had risen shakily to her feet and was massaging her head. Catalina smiled and hugged her friend, nearly knocking her over.
"Nice to see you, too," Gyana said, "but will you give me a second to clear my head?"
"How did you do that?" Cat asked.
"What?"
"Hold you breath for that long?"
"Hold my what?" Gyana laughed. "Catalina, how can I live in space if I need to breathe?"
Cat was shocked. "You don't breathe."
Gyana shook her head. "No, but I can get help if you will get this collar off of me. I will glide over to the UPP patrol ship, tell them the Spung's intentions - "
"And get the Christa blown out of the sky," Cat finished. She pulled out the last wire and the collar was off. "New plan."
"They will not fire if you are still on board," Gyana said.
"I think the UPP will sacrifice the lives of two cadets for the safety of the entire United Populated Planets," Cat objected.
"So, how do we get the Spung off the Christa without the Christa getting blown up?" Gyana asked.
"I have an idea," a voice said weakly from the floor.
**********
The Spung combed the length and breadth of the ship, trying to find the escaped Guardian and Andromedan. Warlord Shett's constant cries for the android had also failed and the screens in the command post had mysteriously died. Blinded, the Spung searched the old fashioned way.
Radu's plan was working like a charm. He remembered Elmira telling him once about the warrior's superstition and how they took omens and psychic readings very seriously. Using their beliefs against them, he had concocted a plan to send them running for their lives - straight into the waiting arms of the UPP.
**********
Two Spung guards prowled the hallways alone. Each of them held a blaster in their hands, and despite the legendary courage of the Spung, they both trembled. A few seconds ago, they had found the armour of one of their crew, lying empty on the ground. They had taken that as a sign that evil was approaching.
They rounded a corner and saw the Guardian and another girl standing in the corridor. Both had smug looks on their faces, which the Spung ignored. They raised their blasters to fire, each picking a target when the rainbow headed alien child screamed.
The sound rattled through their helmets and caused the blasters to misfire, each striking his companion. The two Spung fell down dead.
As Catalina screamed, two more Spung had taken position on the other end of the hall. Before Catalina could turn and deliver her sonic blast, two bolts had already been fired. Gyana waved her arms, gesturing towards the wall and the two bolts slowly turned and struck the wall just a meter away from where the two girls stood.
"Air waves are always harder to manipulate than space waves," Gyana grunted as Catalina screamed again.
The two Spung fell and the girls jumped down the jump tubes.
**********
"I thought they were supposed to be scared into fleeing the ship," Catalina remarked when they met up with Radu again. "We end up killing them before they get scared."
Radu shrugged. "Not every plan is perfect," he said.
The Andromedan limped slightly because of the shot at point blank range and he seemed to be hunched over. He led the way down the hall. Gyana slowed Catalina down to talk with her privately.
"He is the same Radu from the logs, correct?" Gyana asked.
"Yes," Catalina replied.
"He seems so much - colder now. During his time on the Christa, he seemed shy and harmless. Have circumstances since his departure from the ship changed him?"
Catalina nodded. "Circumstances since leaving the Christa have changed us all - especially him."
**********
Warlord Shett fumed as he paced around the Command Post. The ship would no longer respond to him and his men had all mysteriously vanished since the Guardian had been thrown down the garbage shoot. To make matters worse, the Andromedan had somehow disappeared as well.
Shett turned on his heels and walked to the helm. Since the ship's own controls had not responded to him, he had installed a box that forced the ship to act. Now, he pounded the controls with one of his three long fingers, forcing the Christa to jerk around.
"All remaining hands return to the helm," he ordered over the comm. system.
Smiling to himself, he sat back and waited for the sounds of his warriors. They would destroy Earth, but not right away. First, they needed to return to the homeworld with two important packages.
**********
"We are moving again," Gyana reported from where the trio hid in the cargo hold.
For the first time since she had known him, Catalina heard Radu swear. It caught her by surprise and she could only stare at her friend in shock. He stood and began to pace back and forth, his attention fixed elsewhere in the ship.
"Where's Thelma?" Cat asked.
"I believe she had returned to the command post. Warlord Shett has need of her, and she cannot go against her programming," Gyana replied.
"We're in trouble," Radu said, abruptly turning to face the girls. "I heard Shett talking. We're heading back to the Spung homeworld. Shett isn't risking the Christa yet. He's waiting until he has enough forces behind him to pose a suitable threat."
"Then why did he challenge the UPP already?" Catalina asked.
"He's testing us," Radu replied, still pacing. "He want to see how committed the UPP will become. That way he'll be able to gauge his own troops to outnumber ours."
Catalina pondered that fact and reviewed their plan. Since the Spung were still on board, it would be useless to try and take control. Shett rarely left the command post and now, everyone would be searching for them.
"What now?" Gyana asked.
"You two have to get out of here," Radu decided. "They still don't know about Cat being on board, and you're too much of a potential weapon to let the Spung keep you."
"The Spung cannot break my will," Gyana said.
"They have ways."
Catalina shuddered, remembering the Luff mind wiping techniques they had used in the previous war. It seemed that when it came to conquest, the Spung would stoop to anything.
"So now what?" Cat repeated.
Radu slumped down the wall, resting his head in his hands.
"I don't know," he whispered.
**********
Catalina woke up with a start. She shook her head to clear the last few traces of fog and looked around the room. Suddenly, all the memories of the previous day's adventure came flooding back. She was on the Christa. The Christa was infested with Spung. Radu was going crazy.
She stopped her thoughts at that moment. Radu going crazy? When had that happened? She remembered him changing slowly from the caring, innocent Starcademy cadet to an angry, blood thirsty Andromedan fighting his deadliest enemy. She didn't blame him for his actions, but he was beginning to frighten her.
"We are at the Spung homeworld," Gyana reported. "Screen on."
The Christa was surrounded by the large, green floating cities that made up the Spung homeworld. Since the Spung had long ago destroyed their own planet, they had taken to living in scattered cities around their Empire, hovering within the orbit of the conquered worlds as a reminder to the enslaved people. One section of space, in the heart of the Empire, was the largest cluster of floating cities. It was to these green monsters that the Spung homeworld was referred.
The ship moved quickly to the largest of the cities and began to dock. Radu stared at the scene outside with a peculiar mixture of anger, fear, and curiousity on his face. Catalina came up from behind him and put her arm around his shoulder to comfort him. She could feel his muscles tense as the source of his entire race's persecution loomed before him.
He pulled his eyes away from the screen to listen to some far away conversation. Seconds later, he turned to his two companions. Catalina noticed that he still held his abdomen in one hand where he had been shot.
"They're scouring the ship looking for us," Radu said. "Cat, you have to hide. Once they find me and Gyana, they'll stop looking."
"And where will that leave us?" Cat demanded. "I'll be hiding on the ship that will destroy the UPP and you'll be Spung food."
"Perhaps if I were to transport Catalina to the surface, she could somehow contact help," Gyana suggested.
"What surface?" Radu asked. "The Imperial City? She'll be killed instantly!"
Gyana bit her lip thoughtfully. "There is one other way that I know of, but it is extremely dangerous."
The two Starcademy cadets looked at her.
"I could give Catalina my cloak and she would be invisible as long as she is wearing it. I, however, will steadily weaken without the cloak until I return to open space," Gyana said.
"We can't do that," Catalina protested. "She'll die without this cloak."
"It's our only alternative," Radu said. "With the cloak, Gyana can take you to the surface and you'll be safe until you rescue us. Then, we'll steal a ship and get back to the Starcademy to warn them about the Spung attack."
"Good plan," Catalina said dryly. "How do I rescue you?"
Radu smiled at her wryly. "I have the utmost faith that you'll come up with an excellent plan."
Before Catalina could retort, Gyana had firmly taken her wrist and they had both disappeared.
**********
The Imperial City was dark and creepy. The walls of the rigid buildings were all a solid green colour, free of any outside ornaments or plant life. The citizens marched with military precision along the sides of the road, neither speaking or looking at anyone they passed. Business was conducted quickly and efficiently with little or no small talk. Catalina found the entire place depressing.
Gyana had dropped her off in a small alley between two of the imposing buildings and had wrapped the cloak tightly around her shoulders. Catalina had held back her tears and the Guardian returned to the Christa to become a captive of the Spung once again while she had her freedom. She thought of Radu's trusting face as they had disappeared and knew that she could not fail.
Everything around her was Spung. She could not read the signs or understand the guttural language they spoke. Cautiously, she stepped out of the alley and prayed desperately that the invisibility of the cloak worked. When she realized that the Spung paid absolutely no attention to her, she sighed with relief and headed to the tallest building in the city - the Imperial Palace.
**********
The guards who stood outside the open doors didn't see Catalina as she slid between them without making a sound. Clutching the cloak tighter, she tiptoed through the long hallways. She assumed that the main throne room would be easy to find, but quickly became lost in the maze of corridors. Biting back a curse, she sat down on the ground to gather her bearings.
A noise from one of the corridors made her start. She heard someone yelling in a poorly accented language that she understood. It was not the Basic language they spoke at Starcademy, but another language which she had taken in class - Andromedan.
Quietly, Catalina slipped down the hall towards the sound. She soon saw a young Andromedan slave being yelled at by a much larger Spung guard. The small Andromedan looked only to be about nine or ten years old, but Catalina knew that he was much younger. Radu was only fourteen years old himself yet appeared to be about twenty by Earth standards. As the Spung marched off, still muttering, the Andromedan began to clean up what he had dropped.
"Hello," Catalina said in Andromedan.
Startled, the Andromedan dropped the plate again and whirled around. Catalina realized that he couldn't see her and she removed the cloak. As the slave's eyes grew wide with fear, Catalina clamped her hand over his mouth.
"Friend," she told him. "No hurt you, no scare you."
The slave nodded, obviously understanding her broken Andromedan. As she removed her hand, he began speaking rapidly to her. She found it too hard to follow.
"Slow," Cat said. "I no understand fast."
"Who are you?" the slave asked.
"Friend," Catalina repeated. "Catalina."
"I am Derik 893," the slave told her. "Can you save me?"
Catalina nodded. "Come under my cloak and you will be - " she stumbled over the word 'invisible' " - safe."
Derik smiled and put the plate down in the hallway. He was small and fit easily between Catalina and the cloak. Once he was safely wrapped up, they tried to move. With two bodies, it was much more difficult to maneuver.
"Can you tell me where the throne room is?" Cat asked.
Derik paled. "No go there. Bad room."
Catalina nodded. "Friends in danger. I must."
Derik slowly moved out from the protection of the cloak and nodded bravely. "I show," he said.
In plain view, the young slave marched down the hallway with the invisible guest not far behind. Catalina was impressed by his courage and promised herself that he would not be left behind when they fled.
**********
Shackled, beaten, and stripped to the waist, Radu was thrown into a tiny box. The barred door was closed behind him and he could only stare at the retreating ship. He was doubled over with his hands behind his back and his knees banging his chin as the cage swayed. Gyana walked behind him, in view from his cell. She seemed paler than before and walked with sagging shoulders. The collar that kept her from teleporting into space was firmly attached around her neck and her hands were bound behind her. She was led with a length of rope from her collar like a dog and Radu felt himself growing angry just thinking about it.
Several minutes passed as Radu was carried through the Imperial Palace of the Emperor. Gyana kept walking, seeming weaker by the minute and Radu wondered what was to become of her. Finally, the procession stopped and the cage was dropped with a thud to the tiled floor.
"The prisoner shall be brought forward," a voice commanded in the guttural Spung language.
Radu's cage was opened and he was yanked roughly into the light. He blinked and glanced around the room at the angry faces. Finally, his eyes came to rest on the Emperor himself and, sitting on a dais below him, the Sirrola of the Empire. Elmira tried her best to control herself as she saw Radu being dragged before her uncle's throne. She kept her eyes downcast, but sent waves of love to the prisoner to try and make him more comfortable.
The herald by the door banged his staff on the ground three times to gather the attention of everyone in the room.
"Announcing Warlord Shett, Commander of the Spung Army, Heir Apparent to the Throne, and beloved nephew of our ruler, Emperor Biket IV, Imperial Ruler of the Spung Empire."
As his titles were being announced, Warlord Shett waltzed into the room, bowed to the Emperor and took his seat on a dais below his uncle, but higher than Elmira's.
The herald made his way from the doorway to the edge of the throne, where he unrolled a scroll to read the list of crimes against the prisoner.
"The prisoner is accused of kidnapping Sirrola Elmira, and killing her beloved father, Warlord Shank, brother of our ruler, Emperor Biket IV, Imperial Ruler of the Spung Empire. How does the throne find the prisoner?" the herald announced.
"Guilty," Biket said. "Sentence is immediate death."
Two guards grabbed Radu's arms and dragged him out of the room. Gyana and Elmira could only watch in alarm as he left.
"Next prisoner," the herald said, "the Guardian found aboard the alien vessel."
Gyana was pushed forward and collapsed at the Emperor's feet. Defiantly, she raised her head and stared unblinking into Biket's eyes. The Emperor watched the girl intently for several seconds before shaking himself free.
"The Guardian is sentenced to lifetime slavery. I present her as a gift to my niece, Sirrola Elmira, in honour of our victory," Biket IV declared.
Gyana smiled faintly and slumped forward. Two guards roughly picked her up and carried her to Elmira's rooms. The Sirrola nodded to her uncle in thanks and lowered her eyes again.
"Warlord Shett," Biket said, "take whatever forces you need to destroy the UPP. I demand ultimate victory or honourable death."
"Yes, Majesty," Shett said, bowing. "I will mobilize our forces immediately."
"Good," Biket said. "Now, everyone go away. It's time to eat."
**********
Emperor Biket ate like a pig. Elmira watched in disgust as the most powerful Spung in the universe stuffed his mouth full of the delicacies of their newest conquest. The people had been terrified of their new masters and had relinquished all their food supplies, leaving a terrible famine behind as the Emperor casually took one bite and threw the rest away. As soon as she was able, Elmira excused herself and fled to her room.
The Guardian that had become her newest slave lay on the floor. She appeared to have been carelessly tossed there, with the metal collar still around her neck. She appeared lifeless and Elmira worried that she was dead. The Sirrola knelt beside her, checking for signs of life. Almost immediately, the slave came awake.
"Hush," Elmira soothed. "I am a friend."
The Guardian nodded, the gesture so small Elmira hardly noticed it.
"Are you ill?" the Spung asked.
With a wan smile, the Guardian spoke. "No," she said faintly, "I am not ill, just weak. I am Gyana."
"I know," Elmira said. "I have seen this far into my own future. What puzzles me is how you convinced my uncle not to kill you and why you are in the company of Radu."
"Your uncle lacks will," Gyana explained. "I manipulated his brain waves to trick him into giving me to you. That is why I have lost what remaining energy I had. I need to return to open space and restore myself, but I must wait."
"Why wait?" Elmira asked. "I can get a ship, fly us out of the city and release you."
"But then what will become of Radu, Catalina, and the Christa?"
Elmira became even more confused as Gyana muttered those last few words and slumped back into unconsciousness.
**********
Catalina finished muttering a few choice curses under her breath as Derik lead her away from the throne room. She had seen the entire ordeal from the safety of Gyana's cloak and the little Andromedan slave had hardly been noticed in all the commotion.
It had taken her several precious minutes to convince Derik to lead her to where Radu was being held in preparation for his execution. His sentence had alarmed her and, satisfied that Gyana would be safe with Elmira, Cat had decided to go after Radu.
Derik stopped in front of two large metal doors. Catalina waited patiently for him to open the doors and keep going, but the small Andromedan stayed put.
"No further," Derik said, the fear evident in his voice. "Bad place."
"Friend need help," Catalina pleaded. "Must go in."
"No further," Derik repeated stubbornly, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Catalina removed the cloak so her head was visible to the Andromedan. His little face remained resolved and Catalina sighed. She bent over and kissed Derik on the cheek.
"Thanks, Derik 893," she said. "I go alone."
Derik watched his friend cover her head, push open the doors, and venture into the unknown.
**********
All along the corridor were ancient swords and relics of past years. Catalina shuddered as she saw the huge pieces of metal, some still stained with the blood of the slain. There were shields of fallen Warlords, paintings of victories and words chipped into the stone. Cat assumed that the words were the names of fallen warriors, but she could not be sure. She did, however, pause for a second to examine the paintings.
She had never thought of the Spung as artists, yet the canvas on the wall leading to the dungeon was beautiful. The artist had captured every detail of this particular victory and had immortalized it. She saw the triumphant Spung standing over their fallen victims, holding up their flag and brandishing their swords. After a moment's scrutiny, Catalina saw that the enemy were Andromedan. She gasped and quickly looked around to make sure no one had heard her. With a grim smile, she realized what the Spung had done. They had altered the true events to make it a victory to the Empire. There was no evidence of the hatchery that they had taken, or signs grief on the captive Andromedan's faces. Only conquest.
With a sweep of Gyana's cloak, Catalina continued down the corridor to save her friend.
**********
The Spung jailers were anything but gentle. Still bound and battered, Radu found himself being thrown against a solid stone wall. He heard his shoulder crunch as he fell to the ground and blinked furiously to clear his vision. The laughter of the Spung was the worst part. The eternal enemy of his people had won. Gyana was a gone, Catalina missing, and the Christa was probably being flown to Earth at this very instant to destroy the UPP. Complete despair washed over him as the jailers hauled him to his feet and strapped him down to a metal bed.
"Earthers have proven useful," one hissed. "Spung would have never come up with so efficient a device."
Radu didn't resist as they raised his hands above his head and tied them tighter. They did the same with his legs until he found the only thing he could move was his neck. Grinning, the Spung brought out a glowing coal from a nearby fire pit. As his grin broke into a laugh, he pushed the coal down onto Radu's unprotected chest.
Radu screamed.
**********
Catalina heard the scream and ran as fast as she could. She passed locked cages full of hopeless prisoners and implements of torture without a second glance. The cry sounded again and she ran faster, whirling around corners without regard to her own safety. In no time, she had found the room where the prisoner was being tortured.
Radu was in a sorry state. His head was slumped down onto his chest and his eyes were closed and tear stained. Two cruel looking Spung guards were poking him with a kind of metal object and Catalina could see the welts on his body. Inhaling deeply, Catalina released a sonic blast.
The two Spung were thrown backwards, their hands clamped over their sensitive ears. Catalina ran to Radu as they guards lay stunned and untied him. As he fell to the ground, she wrapped him in Gyana's cloak and waited. In a few seconds, the guards were back to their mean selves.
"The prisoner!" one gasped. "He's escaped!"
"Sound the alarm!" the other yelled. "Warlord Shett will tan our hides if he escapes!"
Crouched under the metal table, Catalina held Radu under the safety of the cloak. She watched the two Spung guards spin around in confusion before storming out of the chamber. The Saturnian then turned her attention to Radu.
His wounds didn't seem as serious as they had appeared when she had just entered. He was unconscious due to stress and dehydration rather than injury and the burns on his chest weren't severe. With a sigh of relief, Catalina began trying to revive him.
**********
Elmira paced around her room. Gyana was still asleep and her health was failing rapidly. Her skin paled and her eyes appeared sunken into her head. Elmira had removed the collar and moved the slave to her bed. As Gyana slept, she began to wish feverently that she knew what Radu's plan was.
Gyana muttered in her sleep and Elmira went over to her side. The Guardian cracked open an eyelid and tried to sit up. Elmira held her back down with one hand.
"I must get back to the ship," Gyana whispered. "I think that is where the others will meet me."
"You're much too weak to travel," Elmira observed. "How will you move to the airlock from here?"
Gyana smiled weakly. "I do not need an airlock. Tell me, princess, does one of your walls back onto the nothingness of space?"
**********
Catalina dashed down the hallway, Radu stumbling along behind her. Gyana's cloak was barely big enough for the two of them, but it seemed to expand somehow to encompass them both. Catalina swerved to miss a small troop of Spung guards and found herself staring at the door again. Not wanting to risk being seen with so many Spung around, she waited for the door to open.
Radu seemed to have come almost to full awareness and was grateful for the stop.
"How do we get out?" he asked.
"Shhh!" Catalina said, motioning to the guards. "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go."
As if in answer to her prayers, the door creaked open and a tiny head peeked in. It was Derik, the Andromedan slave who had helped Catalina. He opened the door wider as the Spung turned to stare at him. When they saw the slave, a few laughed nervously and they all returned to business. Catalina and Radu snuck through the door.
Derik wandered to a deserted corridor and stopped. He turned to face empty air and waited patiently.
"You're there," he said in broken Basic. "I hear you."
Catalina's cloak dropped off to reveal herself and Radu. The young slave seemed shocked to see one of his own kind and began speaking rapidly in Andromedan. Radu replied with a calm voice that seemed to relax the slave slightly. Catalina observed this without understanding a word.
"I hate to break this up," she said finally, "but we have to get out of here before they mobilize the entire army."
Derik spoke again and Radu nodded in agreement.
"He says that the Emperor is fuming and he's about to seal off the space port. If we need to leave, the time is now."
"Can you take us to Sirrola Elmira?" Catalina asked.
Derik nodded and lead the way as the two Starcademy cadets hid themselves once more.
**********
Elmira was certain that beyond the wall to her room was the farthest edge of the floating city. There was only a thin layer of atmosphere separating her from nothing. Gyana smiled as she said this and closed her eyes. In a split second, the Guardian was gone. Elmira looked around her room in surprise. Finally understanding, she walked over to her computer screen.
"Outside view," she said.
The screen flashed and she saw Gyana lying in space. Her human legs had vanished and were replaced by a silver, fish like tail. She appeared to be a mermaid from old Earth stories, except the tail was more shark like than anything else. The form remained still for several seconds before Gyana stretched and swam about. Elmira watched happily, until the Guardian once again vanished. She reappeared back in Elmira's room.
"Thank you," she said.
The Guardian no longer appeared as listless as before. She was still pale and weak, but some energy had been replenished during that brief swim with the stars. There was a knock at Elmira's door.
The Sirrola went over and opened it. Outside, there was a young Andromedan slave. He bowed to Elmira and the Spung princess could see that his eyes were full of fear. Gyana walked up behind Elmira and put one hand gently on her shoulder.
"Let them in," the Guardian said.
Elmira glanced down the hall, wondering who the 'them' was. When she saw no one else, she allowed the Andromedan slave to enter. When the door was firmly closed, Gyana addressed the space behind the slave.
"I see your mission was successful," she remarked.
From thin air, Catalina's face appeared. She smiled and the rest of her appeared, along with Radu. Catalina handed a large checkered cloak to Gyana who gratefully put it on.
"Thank you," Gyana said. "I was almost at my limit."
"Thank you," Catalina told her. "We almost got caught."
"Radu," Elmira said, "Catalina. What is going on here?"
"Long story," Radu said with a tired smile. "We'll tell you on the way out of here."
**********
Guards were searching the Imperial City from top to bottom as Elmira, Gyana, Catalina, Radu, and Derik crept out of the Palace. The Starcademy cadets and the Guardian were dressed as slaves while Elmira hid her features under a large hood. They were hardly looked at twice as they passed the gates.
Elmira took the lead with Derik right beside her. The young slave had never been outside the palace and gawked at the strange sights to be seen. Self-inflated nobles who lived closest to the palace brushed by, not even noticing Elmira and her four 'slaves'.
"How far is the space port?" Gyana asked.
"We're not going to the space port," Elmira replied. "I have a personal ship that will not be guarded. It's just down the next street."
As they rounded a corner, they stumbled upon a group of soldiers. The Spung warriors looked at the mismatched group and immediatly opened fire. Gyana tossed her cloak back over her shoulder and waved her hands in front of her body, as if she were conducting a complicated orchestra. The bolts from the blasters veered off course and Catalina let loose a piercing scream, destroying the blaster's circuitry. Seeing the uselessness of their weapons, the guards tossed them aside and attacked.
There were four guards and five escapees. The first two guards attacked the two Andromedans. Radu easily tossed his aside, slamming the Spung's head against the nearest building. Derik had more trouble as he unleashed his strength for the first time.
The third guard went after Catalina, who stopped his efforts short with a series of karate moves that Harlan had taught her. The last guard grabbed Elmira without realizing who she was.
"Release me!" Elmira exclaimed.
"Silence, Sirrola," the Spung snapped. "Warlord Shett has issued a command for your arrest."
Derik had finished off his guard, not killing him but leaving him with enough broken bones to keep him from moving. He saw the warrior holding Elmira and became angry. His eyes flashed red and his hands clenched. Radu saw these early signs in the young Andromedan with fear.
"Derik!" he called as more guards came around the corner. "Don't give in to anger! You won't be able to control yourself!"
Derik paid no attention as he savagely attacked the Spung. Elmira broke free in alarm and retreated a few steps, watching with morbid fascination. The entire ordeal lasted only a minute and the Spung guard that had captured the Sirrola lay on the ground in pieces. With a strange, lustful look in his eyes, Derik searched for more prey. Radu shook his head sadly.
The back up forces took aim and fired at the prisoners. As one of the bolts hit the wall beside Radu's head, he knew it was time to go.
"Run for it!" he cried.
As they ran, another guard took aim. Derik looked over his shoulder in time to see the blaster bolt heading for Elmira's unprotected back. With a shout, he dove between the bolt and the Sirrola, taking the shot full force in the chest. He landed with a heavy thud. Radu scooped him up as they ran.
**********
Thanks to Gyana's expandable cloak, they lost the guards just outside Elmira's private space port. With a sigh of relief, they quickly went in and barred the door closed. Radu still cradled Derik in his arms and now, he lay the young slave down gently.
"Derik, why did you do that?" Elmira asked.
Derik spoke in rapid Andromedan, his voice growing weaker with every word. Tears streaming down his face, Radu translated.
"He was . . . going to kill . . . you," Radu repeated.
Elmira smoothed the Andromedan's hair back with one hand. A tear fell from her eye as she gazed at his face.
"Catalina," Radu translated for Derik as he closed his eyes. "Thank you for giving me hope. Thank you all for giving me freedom."
With a final sigh, Derik left his friends to join his ancestors in the heavens.
There was a pounding on the door as the guards tried to enter.
"Quick!" Elmira said. "On the ship! Get it ready to go!"
Catalina, Gyana, and Radu entered the ship with the Andromedan lingering behind to wait for the Sirrola. The door broke to splinters and Warlord Shett came in followed by several guards. Elmira stood her ground as the ship behind her flared to life.
"Dear sister," Shett said. "How kind of you to capture the slaves."
"They are not slaves," Elmira retorted. "They are friends and will be allowed to leave."
"Sister, you are beginning to anger me," Shett warned. "Know that your powers are not so great as to be expendable. You are not as useful to me as you were to our father."
Radu entered the ship, standing inside the door to listen to the rest of the conversation.
"Do whatever you want with me, Shett," Elmira said. "I have seen my own future and I know what it to become of me. Nothing you do can make me stray from that path."
She turned and stepped onto the plank leading to the ship. Radu heard the blasters of the guards power up.
"Elmira!" Shett bellowed. "Enter that ship and you will forsake your Emperor! You will renounce your title and be banished from the Empire!"
Elmira turned coolly to her brother.
"I renounce my name," she said. "And whatever rank came with being a prisoner in the palace. Know this, dear brother. Warlord Shank was a far better Spung than you could ever be."
She entered the ship, leaving Shett standing in the space port, surrounded by guards yet utterly alone.
**********
As the ship left the orbit of the Imperial city, Catalina swerved back. She headed straight for the Christa, which was under guard from the city but not from the stars.
The Christa quickly allowed the small craft to land and the four intruders snuck on board. They headed first to the Compost to scanned for life. To their dismay, they found Thelma in pieces on the ground.
"Oh no!" Catalina muttered.
"I'll get her back together," Radu said. "You guys check out the ship."
Elmira had been strangely silent since their escape from Warlord Shett. She removed the Spung machinery from the helm and helped run the scan as Radu pieced the android back together.
"No other life on board," Gyana reported.
"Let's go," Radu said. "Cat, you fly her."
Catalina's eyes lit up. "Finally! You'd think after all those years on the Christa I would have a chance to fly. Harlan was always such a hog!"
**********
Catalina flew through space with Gyana gliding along outside. Through the view screen, the Guardian's sleek tail could be seen keeping speed with the ship.
Elmira sat in the team room, her face in her hands. Radu stood by the doorway to keep her company, feeling her pain yet not knowing what to do. Finally, Elmira looked up. Radu could see her make up was smeared from the tears and her green scales seemed paler than usual.
"Oh, Radu!" she sobbed as he moved towards her. "What have I done? I have renounced my title, my family, my people! I'm alone, just plain old Elmira the Spung. Where am I to go?"
Radu sat down next to her and held her in his arms, completely unprepared to deal with her situation. He had never seen Elmira when she had not been completely in control.
"You could come to Starcademy," he suggested.
Elmira raised her head and sniffed. "Starcademy?" she repeated. "Will they take a Spung as a cadet? We almost destroyed the UPP - twice!"
"They took an Andromedan only a year or so after the war, why wouldn't they take a Spung? It will be difficult for you, but you will have us."
Elmira lay against Radu's chest and sighed.
"We would be together," Radu added.
The former Sirrola smiled up at him and nodded. "I would like that," she said. "Just think - a Spung for a StarDog!"
She laughed and in that sound, Radu knew that everything was going to be all right. The Christa flew through space as if nothing had even happened and everything was as it should be.