LIKE A SPUNG SCORNED
The student body of Starcademy was cluttered into the cafeteria like the prisoners they were. Spung guards patrolled the hallways, Spung warriors stood at all the doorways. Everywhere, in the entire school, there were Spung.
The attack had come suddenly and without warning. The StarDog veterans who taught at the school were easily outnumbered and in a few hours, the entire school had fallen to the Spung assault. The teachers were locked together in one classroom while the cadets were ushered into the cafeteria. Several of the older students fought back and were either injured or killed. The younger students whimpered and hid as the cadets were divided by race.
Soon, Earthers stood alone, surrounded by Spung. The next group was a mixture of Mercurians and Venusians followed by the few Saturnians and Neptunians, and the Plutonians and the Uranusians. All the students were grouped, except a lone Andromedan.
"Andromedan," one of the Spung called mockingly, "Serve us."
Radu glared at the Spung guard and counted their captors. Twenty five Spung were in the cafeteria, too many for him to take alone.
"Join a group," the leader yelled. "We don't want to look at you."
Clenching his fists, Radu walked over to where Catalina and Clito stood. The Spung laughed and threw things at him as he walked.
The laughter died down as a new Spung appeared in the doorway. Radu turned and paled at the sight. It was Warlord Shett.
"I have to hide!" Radu whispered to Catalina.
"Duck down," she answered. "Maybe he won't see you."
Radu ducked as Warlord Shett stepped into the room and looked around. He had a triumphant grin on his face.
"Children," he exclaimed. "Welcome to the Spung Academy. You will resume classes as soon as possible, but the focus of your studies will change slightly. Instead of learning to become a StarDog," he spat the word like a curse, "you will learn how to better serve the Spung Empire."
An outraged murmur spread through the students. Warlord Shett continued to smile hideously as he held up his hands for attention.
"Don't consider escape or rebellion," Shett warned. "I know of your powers and I can assure you that someone will be punished if your powers are used against the Spung."
Catalina fumed and inhaled deeply in preparation to scream. Clito clamped her hand on her friend's mouth.
"Not yet," she whispered.
Warlord Shett nodded approvingly. "Good, children. You must all go to your bunks now. There are Spung lining the halls, so no one try anything. Good night and classes will begin tomorrow morning."
He turned and headed out of the room. The Spung began to force the cadets out of the cafeteria toward the dorms. Radu walked silently beside Catalina and Clito.
"We'll organize a resistance," Radu whispered. "The united power of the students should be enough to counter the Spung."
"But there are hundreds of them," Clito remarked. "We would have to get them all together in one place to avoid punishment."
Radu sighed. "I'm working on it. The UPP will come to our help. We should wait until then."
"I hope Harlan's all right," Catalina said. "He, Elmira, and Matt disappeared awfully suddenly."
"I hope so too," Radu said.
**********
The next few weeks passed slowly and painfully. The students were forbidden to speak to one another or to the Spung and slowly, their privileges were taken away. They wore the same gray jumpsuit every day after the Spung took away their recreational clothes and their brightly coloured t-shirts. They ate the same food every day for their one meal, went to classes, and served their Spung masters.
Several of the cadets were chosen by Spung guards as personal slaves. Those few were often gone for days without anyone seeing them. Radu shuddered to think of what was being done to them and pitied them - until he was chosen.
After class, he was seized by one of the guards. Like all the cadets, he was weak from starvation and dehydration so he didn't put up a fight. He was taken to one of the teacher's rooms. Vaguely, he wondered what happened to the teachers. The Spung guard pushed him inside.
His new master was sitting awkwardly on the chair. His tail was thrown over the hand rest and he looked quite uncomfortable. Radu glared at him and the Spung smiled.
"Andromedan," he hissed. "I paid a pretty price for you to be my slave."
"You shouldn't have wasted your money," Radu snarled.
The Spung rose and slapped Radu across the face. Radu's head turned with surprise, rather than the force of the hit and his hatred burned deeper.
"The others think a different race will serve better," the Spung continued, "but I think none serve better than Andromedans. So weak minded to go along with their brute strength."
Radu remained silent, his eyes boring into the Spung.
"I see you learn quickly," the guard nodded with approval. "One strike was enough to teach you not to speak. Good."
The Spung put a metal collar around Radu's neck. It clicked shut with a note of permanence that made Radu wince.
"I don't think I need to explain the collar to you," his new master said. "The Luff were quite good with their prisoners, as are the Spung. With a push of a button, you either get shocked, or blown to bits."
To illustrate his point, he pushed the button on his wrist controller. A bolt of electricity soared through Radu's body, bringing with it new pain. He fell to his knees.
"It is late," his master said. "You will sleep over there."
He gestured to a dark corner near the door. Radu crawled there, not trusting his legs. The Spung laughed as he watched.
"Tomorrow the fun begins," the Spung promised.
Radu did not doubt his words.
**********
Harlan paced in the hanger. The remainder of the student Air Strikers were seated near him. The surviving four grieved for the loss of Jerad and Kael, but they knew the only way to make the deaths count was to repel the Spung.
"Why did we retreat?" Harlan asked himself for the millionth time. "Why did we run while the Spung invaded Starcademy? Why aren't we doing anything now?"
"Take it easy, Harlan," Mattar said. "The UPP are doing all they can."
"It's not enough."
"We all have friends in there, Harlan," Gabrielle said. "The Spung was just too much for us alone. Now we have to consider a school full of hostages."
"Those hostages are my friends!" Harlan yelled. "I can't just sit here while they suffer at the hands of the Spung."
"Who said the Spung were hurting them?" Matt asked.
"I know my people," Elmira spoke up. "I do not wish harm to the cadets, but my brother will; especially to Radu."
Gyana appeared beside the pacing Harlan. She seemed tired and drawn as she flew around the Spung, counting their defenses.
"They have two full kill cruiser crew inside the Starcademy," the Guardian reported. "There are five more kill cruisers patrolling the perimeter of the school. Starcademy's own defenses are operational and working against the UPP. Most of the small, light space craft were destroyed in the fight."
"Two kill cruisers is over one hundred Spung warriors," Elmira said. "The students cannot possibly overcome those odds."
"Never underestimate Catalina," Harlan said with fierce pride. "She'll think of a way to communicate to us or she'll destroy every Spung in the joint."
**********
Catalina bowed to the Spung guard as she entered the girls dorm. Once the lights had gone out, they would be able to speak to each other. It was the only way they kept hope alive in the Starcademy students.
As darkness set in and the guards fell asleep, the more rebellious cadets met in the corner of the large room. The boys snuck in from their dormitory through a ventilation shaft that joined the two rooms.
There were about ten in total. Catalina assumed leadership, organizing the different groups of people. Among the rebels were Rosie, Bova, Clito, and Radu, only tonight their numbers were smaller.
"Where's Radu?" Catalina whispered.
"He was chosen," a small Earther boy said. "The guards took him away after class."
"The plan goes on without him," Catalina ordered. "How are our rations?"
"We've been stealing from the kitchens every morning," Clito answered. "I've also been able to sneak into the hydroponics lab and get some vegetables. We're well stocked."
"Medical supplies?"
"We have enough training between all of us to keep everyone alive," Rosie reported. "Absolutely no problems here."
"Tactics?"
"The plan is workable," Bova said. "I doubt we'll be strong enough to get rid of the Spung, but we definitely will irritate them."
"Okay," Catalina said with a grin, "we're almost ready to retaliate. Are the students ready?"
"Radu was supposed to tell them the plan," Clito remarked.
Catalina sighed. "I'll unite the Saturnians and Plutonians, Clito gets the Neptunians and Venusians, Rosie the Mercurians, Bova the Uranusians and Earthers. Agreed?"
They all nodded and Catalina broke up the meeting. Quietly, they all snuck back to their respective beds to rest for the next day.
"Do you really think this will work?" Rosie asked sleepily.
"Of course it will," Catalina replied. "All we need is a sign from the UPP."
**********
"The Spung will not negotiate," Shett roared.
The image of Admiral Cody did not waver. With fierce determination that rivaled the Spung, Cody began to explain the situation again.
"The UPP will pay whatever you want," he said. "All we ask is that the students be released. If you do not comply, the UPP will be forced to attack."
Shett laughed. "The Spung will speak with another Spung and no one else. Screen off."
Admiral Cody disappeared. Shett turned his attention back to the Spung warrior that stood in front of him.
"Report," Shett ordered.
"The alien children are submissive," he said. "The strongest have been selected for mining on Spung World 7. Most of the females have already been claimed by the guards and the others can be used for - sport."
Shett nodded. "Have the kill cruisers clear a path for transport. As soon as the alien children are safely scattered throughout the galaxy, the UPP will have no choice but to surrender."
The warrior bowed and left the room. Warlord Shett laughed to himself. His plan was succeeding and with the UPP out of the way, nothing could oppose his claim for the Imperial throne.
**********
Radu crouched in the dark corner that had become his bed. Above him, his Spung master snored away. Radu dreamed of snapping the sleeping Spung's neck, but knew if he did, he would never get the collar removed. It required a special code that only the Spung knew and he was far too weak to snap it himself.
Quietly, Radu rose to his feet. It had been weeks since the Spung had invaded. He knew the cadets wouldn't be able to last for much longer. The UPP was taking too long. It was time he took matters into his own hands.
The small desktop computer that had belonged to the teacher that had previously occupied this room remained on the table. The Spung hadn't figured out how to decode the lock and they hadn't bothered to force Radu to do it. He was just an Andromedan, after all. Smiling to himself for the first time since he had been chosen, Radu cracked the code and began composing an SOS to the one person he knew would answer.
**********
The UPP hadn't acted. Their supplies were rapidly dwindling and the UPP hadn't acted. Catalina sighed to herself as she passed out the last of the fresh vegetables to the cadets. With the meager rations the Spung permitted, the supplies were the only way they survived. Catalina had hoped that they would have lasted until their rescue. She hated to admit she was wrong.
"We can't wait," Bova said. "I'm starving!"
"Bova's right," Clito agreed. "We must act."
"The plan won't work unless the Spung are distracted by the UPP attack," Catalina reminded them. "We have to wait."
"I've treated more cases of malnourishment and dehydration than I can count," Rosie said. "Cat, we can't take much more of this."
Catalina looked sympathetic, but could only shake her head. The Spung needed to be destroyed swiftly, in one swoop. The only way for that to happen was if the UPP took care of the kill cruisers outside.
"We stick to the plan," Catalina decided. "We could end up getting ourselves all killed."
"We're dead anyway," Bova said.
Cat shot him a dirty look. "The UPP will come through for us," she whispered. "We just have to hang in there."
The small group looked at her skeptically. Catalina sat up straight and stared at each one, daring them to question her.
"Whatever you say," Rosie agreed. "We'll wait."
**********
Elmira pressed her eyes tightly together in concentration, her scaly fingers resting lightly on her temples. Harlan and Matt stood next to her, waiting patiently for her to break through. Finally, the Spung gasped and her eyes flew open.
"I cannot reach him," Elmira said. "His mind is too weak right now."
"Too weak?" Harlan demanded. "They must be torturing him, or worse! We have to act."
"Calm down," Mattar said. "We don't know anything for certain. Wait until Gyana returns."
Harlan looked angry and sat down next to Elmira. He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. Matt rolled his eyes and tried to think of something comforting to say, when Commander Goddard walked in. Of all the Air Strikers, none were as tired or as concerned as the Commander and it showed on his face. He seemed more pale and withdrawn than before and Harlan noted that he seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight as well.
"What's the news?" Harlan asked.
"We've gotten reinforcements," Goddard said somewhat sadly. "The UPP were trying to keep them out of the fight, but somehow they got word of the battle and are on their way to join us."
"Who?" Harlan demanded.
Goddard raised his eyes to look at his student. "The Andromedans. The Andromedans are coming to fight the Spung."
**********
Radu was allowed to return to class for a few hours while his master made his report to Warlord Shett. With the Luff collar still around his neck, he stumbled into the classroom and endured a lesson on slave obedience. His eyes scanned the room for friendly faces, but all he could see were the pale, tired faces of the hopeless. The cadets of Starcademy had all but given up the thought of freedom and had gradually accepted Spung dominion. With falling spirit, Radu found himself thinking the same thing. It had been weeks since the invasion, and still no sign of help from the UPP. Maybe they didn't care after all.
Radu found his concentration slipping as various sounds from around the school began wafting into his mind. Usually he could tune out the unwanted noise without thinking, out of habit rather than thought. Lately, he found that his hunger and thirst made his instinct slip until he was bombarded by sound and unable to sort them out. He shook his head as a conversation between a Spung warrior and a young cadet filled his mind. He managed to regain control of his hearing just as the blaster was powered up. He was sure the young cadet was suffering for whatever crime he had committed. He also found that he didn't care his classmate was being punished.
Better him than me, he thought.
"Your demands will not be met," Admiral Cody said.
Radu's attention was snapped onto that one sentence as the rest of the school noise disappeared.
"I think I can be very persuasive, Admiral," Shett hissed. "I have a school of hostages, while you have only a few pathetic fighter ships."
"You are holding a ticking time bomb," Cody threatened. "Soon, it will explode in your hand and then you'll be forced to accept my proposal."
Shett laughed. "You are a fool, Admiral. The Spung have won. Surrender Sirrola Elmira and the United Populated Planets and we will not kill your entire race."
"Make your move," Admiral Cody said. "Attack the UPP and see how far you get. We're ready for you."
A pain through his entire body made Radu bring his thoughts back to himself. His Spung master was standing at the door and had activated the collar to get his attention.
"Andromedan, come here!" the Spung ordered.
Meekly, Radu obeyed but was filled with the hope that their imprisonment would soon end.
**********
The attack came at last. With the reinforcements the Andromedans provided, the UPP force was finally sizable enough to pose a serious threat. Harlan jumped into his fighter ship with a smile on his face. All he could think about was seeing Cat again. He felt invincible.
"Do not let emotions sway your judgment," a voice cautioned.
Harlan turned his head and saw Gyana standing on the ladder leading up to his ship. She stared at him with unblinking eyes that made Harlan gulp.
"Are you a mind reader now?" Harlan asked.
Gyana shook her head. "I came to say farewell. After this fight, you shall never see me again."
"You're leaving?" Harlan said. "What about the party after we win?"
"Do not become overconfident either," Gyana warned. "It could destroy those you care about. Farewell, Earther."
The Guardian vanished. Harlan blinked in surprise and stood up in his ship.
"There you are!" a voice said.
Harlan looked down and saw Mattar standing below his ship.
"Get down from there," Matt said. "We still have a few hours before the Andromedans get here."
"I can't help it," Harlan said as he climbed down. "I can't stand the thought of Spung walking around in Starcademy like they own the place."
Matt laughed. Suddenly, sirens blared and the room filled with activity. Matt and Harlan looked around in confusion as the UPP pilots climbed into their ships. Commander Goddard came up behind them.
"The Spung are taking defensive measures," Goddard shouted over the noise. "We attack now!"
"What about the Andromedans?" Matt asked.
"We attack now!" Goddard repeated. "Get into your ships."
Harlan smiled and Matt shrugged.
"See ya in the battle," Matt said.
"Whoever shoots last buys dinner," Harlan dared.
The airlock opened and the emptiness of space stared back at them. Stars twinkled peacefully as the ships soared into the battle field.
**********
The Spung ran everywhere. The cadets were forced into their dorm rooms and the doors barred and locked. Catalina smiled as she gathered her troops around her.
"This is the signal," she shouted. "The UPP has attacked and now, we turn the tables. Are you with me?"
The cadets roared in agreement as the carefully conceived plan went into action.
**********
Radu found himself in the boys dorm room as his master fled. The UPP battle had started and it was now or never. He heard Catalina's speech in the girl's dorm and saw the boys heading off to their posts.
"Come with me," Bova said. "We're at the front."
Radu's head was spinning with the noise. "F-front?"
Bova shoved something into his hand. "Eat this."
Radu did as he was told and suddenly found his energy restored. With ease, he snapped the Luff collar around his neck. He then filtered out the excess sound and turned to his Uranusian friend.
"What was that?" he asked.
Bova shrugged. "Just something I made to keep our energy up. I figured if we're going to die, we might as well go down fighting."
Radu laughed. "Bova, you're amazing."
Bova coughed uncomfortably. "Come on, you're the muscles behind this plan. We need you."
The two friends headed for the door. A crowd of students had already gathered there, disappointed to find the door locked. Radu slipped his fingers into the thin cracks and pulled. Slowly, the door slid open. The students cheered as Bova and another Uranusian electrocuted the two Spung guards and the cadets swarmed into the halls. Radu headed down the hall, releasing all the cadets from their prisons and enjoying his freedom.
**********
"Watch your tail!" Gabrielle called.
Elmira swerved as the Venusian fighter destroyed the Spung ship that followed her.
"Thanks," Elmira said.
Gabrielle waved as she flew by. Elmira gripped her controls and picked her next target. She aimed and destroyed the ship, feeling quite pleased with herself.
Harlan zoomed by her and she shot the ship tailing him. He thanked her and continued towards the Starcademy.
"Where are you going?" Elmira called.
"To save my friends," Harlan replied.
"Mr. Band, get back here. This is a direct order," Commander Goddard shouted.
Slowly, Harlan's ship turned around and he returned to the fight. Suddenly, the number of ships almost tripled as the Andromedan's joined the fight.
"On behalf of the UPP, thanks for coming," Goddard said, hailing the flag ship.
"On behalf of New Andromeda, thanks for inviting us," a female replied happily.
"Arista?" Harlan and Matt asked.
"Nice to see you guys again, too," Arista laughed. "Now, if you don't mind, I have a small force ready to invade a certain school."
"And you have two more volunteers," Harlan said.
Arista's transport ship broke off the main attack and headed for the school. Before Commander Goddard could protest, Mattar and Harlan joined the invasion as they descended into Starcademy.
**********
Catalina led a small force toward the cargo bay. The Spung had all sprung into action after hearing of the attack and the students had seized the chance. She gestured for Clito to come forward and pointed to the guarded door. The Neptunian nodded and liquefied herself. Catalina and the others watched as the puddle slipped unnoticed under the door and into the room. Several breathless moments passed as the two Spung warriors continued to guard the door, only a few feet away from where the cadets hid.
Finally, Clito emerged from the cargo bay and solidified beside Catalina.
"They're in there," she reported. "They're all undernourished and dehydrated, but I don't think anyone is missing."
Catalina nodded. "Everyone ready?"
The group, consisting of Clito, and two Uranusians, nodded. Catalina smiled grimly and led the charge.
The cadets had the element of surprise on their behalf as the guards stared wildly at the attack. The two Uranusians hit the Spung full force with bolts of electricity while Catalina unlocked the cargo bay door. Clito gathered the dropped blasters, tossed one to Catalina, and pointed it to the unconscious guards.
"Let them out," Clito signaled.
Catalina opened the doors and was greeted by a loud cheer. The teachers of Starcademy poured out into the hall, smiling and congratulating their liberators.
"No time for this now," Catalina said. "Follow Clito to the hydroponics lab. Rosie and a few other medical students are waiting there with plenty of food and fresh water."
The teachers gave another cheer and followed the Neptunian carefully down the hall. Catalina shouldered her blaster and watched them go. Soon, a familiar face appeared in front of her.
"I am very proud of you, Catalina," Ms Davenport said. "No doubt you helped organize this resistance. Good show."
"Thanks, Ms Davenport," Catalina beamed. "That means a lot coming from you."
Her teacher returned the smile and followed the others down the hall. Catalina turned to the remainder of her team and they dragged the two Spung into the cargo bay and sealed the doors.
"Phase One complete," Catalina said into her comlink. "The teachers are on the move. Medlab, get ready."
"Rosie here," a voice said over the link. "Way to go, Cat."
"Bova here," another joined. "Phase Two is ready for go."
"Take it away, Bova," Cat ordered. "And good luck."
**********
Harlan, Matt, Arista, and several Andromedans snuck through the deserted halls of the Starcademy. Each was well armed and prepared for battle. The Andromedans had decided against using their War Chant, but they each wore the light armour of their race. They had arrived in the school hours earlier and had yet to encounter a single living thing. Classrooms were deserted and the lower levels abandoned. Harlan lead the way to the turbo lift.
"Here we go," he said.
They piled into the lift and headed up.
**********
The floor was wet. The Spung warriors who searched the corridors for the missing children wrinkled their reptilian features in disgust as they walked through the ankle deep water.
"Now!"
From the puddles shot up dozens of hands, each securing itself to a Spung ankle. The warriors shot at the floor in confusion and succeeded in electrocuting themselves, however, several of the limbs retracted back into the puddles.
"Second wave!"
A high pitch sonic cry moved down the hall in one long ripple. The Spung clamped their hands on their ears and dropped their weapons, which disappeared into the puddles. As the blast continued, the puddles scurried away leaving the Spung alone in the deserted hallway. A door opened and the Spung warriors fled into the room to escape the horrible sound. The door slid shut behind them.
"Lock," Bova commanded. "Open only to Saturnian pitch."
The door changed colours to indicate it understood the command and the Spung were trapped. The Neptunians solidified themselves as the group under Bova's leadership cheered.
"We've got some wounded," a Neptunian said.
"Move out to the medlab," Bova ordered. "Those who can, follow me."
**********
Arista and the other Andromedans clamped their hands over their ears.
"What's wrong?" Harlan asked.
"Sonic blast," Arista said through clenched teeth.
Harlan chuckled and the Andromedan girl shot him a dirty look.
"No," Harlan apologized, "not that. The blast is Catalina. They've organized a resistance."
"Whoopee," Arista said unenthusiastically. "Do they have to be so loud?"
**********
Radu took the earplugs out of his ears as the last of the sonic blast reverberated off the walls and disappeared. His head was ringing, but at least he had managed to block the worst of it. They probably heard that back on New Andromeda. He smiled as he helped Rosie with the wounded cadets that kept coming in. Now that the teachers were safe, they had extra hands around the medlab, but many of the adults were injured or weak which only added to the confusion.
The second phase had successfully disabled all the Spung warriors who patrolled the hallways. Ambushes like the one lead by Bova had occurred around the entire school on every guard until only those Spung in the principal's office were left. The phase also brought in a lot of wounded and everyone who was physically able was helping with the injured.
"Third wave is now commencing," Catalina reported over the comm. system.
"That's us," Radu said to Rosie.
"I'll be right behind you," the Mercurian said, taking Radu's hand. "Give me a second."
Radu squeezed her hand gently and left the medlab. As he rounded the corner, he ran into a group of people.
"Harlan?" Radu gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I'd say nice to see you," Harlan said, "but I've seen you look better."
"We're here to rescue you," Matt added.
"Greetings, hatch-mate," Arista said in Andromedan.
Radu forgot about the solemn Andromedan greeting and engulfed his sister in a huge hug.
"Hatch-mate?" Radu said. "Why not brother?"
"There is no word for that in our language," Arista chided. "You know that, or have you gone soft after being around all these Earthers?"
"Okay, let's move it," Rosie said, appearing out of the medlab.
"Hi, Rosie," Harlan said.
The Mercurian squealed with delight as she caught Harlan in a fierce hug. She then turned to Matt and did the same, before breaking away awkwardly.
"Phase three, where are you?" Catalina said urgently over the comm.
"Right here," Radu reported, "and we're bringing reinforcements."
Harlan smiled as the group moved down the corridor.
"What is phase three, anyway?" Matt asked.
**********
Warlord Shett was displeased. His ships were being destroyed all around him and none of his warriors had reported back. He was left with only a small force of Spung in the principal's office. To make matters worse, there had been reports of escaped prisoners before all communication had gone down. Feeling alone, Shett began to seriously consider evacuating the mission.
"Go down to the landing bay and prepare my ship for emergency departure," Shett ordered two guards.
The Spung nodded and left the room. Warlord Shett began to pace. Not for the first time, he began to doubt the necessity of regaining Elmira. She was, after all, a female. He admitted that her prophetic powers came in useful, but they were hardly vital to the Spung Empire, especially after they destroy the UPP.
The door to the office burst open and the dozen Spung in the room found themselves facing a mob of angry students as well as their rescuers. The Andromedan Radu was at the foreground with two angry pink aliens and the Earther known as Harlanband. Behind them were several more Andromedans, the annoying Saturnian that Shank had nearly destroyed, and a host of perturbed cadets.
"Destroy them!" Shett ordered.
The remaining eleven Spung charged the group of students as Shett moved his way to the rear escape. Unfortunately, the Andromedans managed to break the charge with their brute strength and Shett soon found himself surrounded by the prisoners. He lowered his blaster and fired into the crowd. A body fell and Shett hissed in pleasure. One less rebel to worry about.
"Shett," a voice called, "you're mine!"
Warlord Shett recognized the voice of the Andromedan his sister favoured so much. Radu appeared out of the crowd, with the two pink people, the Earther, and another Andromedan at his back.
"Face me, Andromedan," Shett hissed.
Radu's eyes flashed in anger and he attacked. Shett fired the blaster, but did not see where the bolt struck. Radu tackled him around the waist and brought him to the ground. They rolled towards the door that marked Shett's only escape. The Spung struggled with the enraged alien, seeking only to free himself from the death embrace.
"We will continue this another day," Shett promised.
He raised his blaster and fired a direct shot into Radu's chest. The Andromedan doubled over and fell, allowing the Spung to rise to his feet. The female pink alien ran towards the fallen Andromedan and Shett raised his blaster again, this time setting it from stun to kill. He fired.
"Rosie!" Mattar cried.
The bolt hit Matt full in the chest as he dove in front of Rosie to shield her from the blow. Shett vanished through the door and the remaining Spung guards were restrained. Radu sat up and shook his head, recovering from the stun.
"Are you okay?" Arista asked.
Radu took a deep breath and winced. Not trusting his voice, he nodded.
"Matt!" Rosie cried.
Arista helped Radu over to where Rosie knelt with Mattar cradled in her arms. Harlan stood behind her and Catalina had appeared from the fight to sit beside the Mercurian.
Matt's eyes were closed and his breathing ragged. A trickle of blood came out of the corner of his mouth as his eyes flickered open.
"Rosie?" he gasped.
"Shhh," Rosie said between her tears. "Save your strength."
Matt shook his head weakly. "It's no use, I'm dying. I - I just wanted you to know that - I loved you from the moment I saw you."
Rosie cried harder and kissed him gently on the forehead. Matt sighed and let his eyes close. Rosie held him a moment longer before hugging him one last time.
"There was nothing you could do," Catalina whispered.
Rosie looked down at the peaceful face of her friend and nodded. Radu put his arm around her shoulders and she turned to bury her face into his chest. He winced as her head struck his tender ribs, but allowed her to cry.
**********
Weeks passed and all signs of the Spung invasion vanished from sight. The memory of their imprisonment faded to the background, but for some the wounds were much deeper.
Mattar was given a spatial burial, along with the other cadets who had died fighting the Spung. Catalina was given a medal for her leadership, and Arista was honoured for her effort in rescuing the cadets. The remaining Air Strikers - Gabrielle, Harlan, and Elmira, were also given commendations and Commander Goddard was given full command over the team.
Rosie remained in deep depression that even made Bova worry. She rarely spoke and when she did, it was only a few words to answer a direct question. Her marks began to fall rapidly, which was very damaging since they were already low to begin with, and she rarely ate. She confided only in Radu, and the Andromedan did not tell anyone what they talked about.
Almost two months after the Spung had abandoned Starcademy, Rosie was sitting under the tree in the biosphere where the space cases usually hung out. Radu was beside her, but neither of them spoke.
"Am I interrupting anything?" Bova asked.
Rosie and Radu turned their heads to see the Uranusian standing a few feet away, as if waiting for permission to approach them. Rosie looked back down at her hands, but Radu smiled and motioned for him to come over. Bova did and sat down across from Rosie.
"I have to tell you something," Bova said to her.
"Do you want me to leave?" Radu asked.
The Uranusian shook his head. "No, stay. You should hear this too."
Rosie raised her head. Bova took a deep breath.
"I'm leaving Starcademy," he said. "My parents think its too dangerous here and they've enrolled me in a school back on Uranus. I won't be back for a while."
Tears began to form in Rosie's eyes again. "Oh no, not you too," she cried.
She lunged forward to caught Bova in a firm hug. Bova blinked in surprise and was unprepared to deal with this sudden show of affection.
"Don't worry, Rosie," he said. "We can still talk over the view phone and I'll come back and visit."
"First I lose Matt, now you," Rosie sniffed. "This is too much."
Bova gently disentangled himself from the Mercurian and forced himself to smile.
"I'm going for the next year, and if I hate it, I'll come back. But you have to promise me something," Bova said.
"What?"
"Cheer up," he told her. "Go back to looking on the sunny side of the street. Mattar's gone and you can't bring him back, but you can go on."
Rosie wiped the tears from her cheeks and nodded bravely. Bova smiled and stood.
"Good bye, Rosie," he said. "Good bye, Radu. I don't regret anything we've done together and I wish it would never end."
The Uranusian walked away.
**********
"Elmira. Species: Spung. Rank: Cadet of Starcademy. Charge: Endangering the lives of the cadets of Starcademy."
Elmira faced the council bravely. She wore her Starcademy uniform with the medal she had just won attached to the jacket. The council stared down at her from their high desks.
"You have done nothing wrong, child," a kind, elderly voice said from the desk, "but by being a Spung, you endanger the UPP. We have already said you could stay, but the unforeseen actions of your race have made us alter our decision."
Elmira waited for the verdict.
"You are permitted to remain in UPP space, but you are no longer allowed to attend Starcademy. It is the request of this council that you hide yourself somewhere the Spung will not find you."
Elmira nodded. She knew from the start that being accepted by the UPP was too good to be true. With a crisp, military bow, she turned on her heel and left the council chamber to seek her new destiny.