Twins on Lavana.
Part 4.
© Copyright 1999 Stellar Spark
Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs FanFic page by Stellar Spark http://www.angelfire.com/id/stellar
Email: Stellar Spark (stellar@mailcity.com)
April looked over the kitchen corner where the pizza was heated in the microwave. The smell told her that it is somewhere near, not in the kitchen, but...
She immediately dashed to the box that was lying on the floor. She was drooling over the smell of the yellow fat cheese, red tomato sauce framed with crunchy edges of the PIZZA!!!
No matter how hard she tried, and she already tried to get hold on to it several times by now, Saber Rider was always in her way. At first, April looked at him in surprise, not really understanding why he did it. After several failed attempts, she finally gave it up to break through by force. Instead she tried another method. She gave him a pleasant smile and spoke in a sweet voice:
"Saber, please, be so kind, and pass over to me two pieces of this wonderful pizza. Please."
Before Saber Rider could say anything, Fireball cut in:
"We'll give you a piece only in exchange!"
A: "What? How? Why? For that?!"
C: "We saw you had a cake."
"Ah, cake!" Only now April remembered about it that she was suppose to share it with the boys.
With readiness she brought them the remaining of the cake, and in return, they gave her nearly the whole pizza (they only took one piece each). Therefore, the twins could enjoy the better part of both the cake and pizza. April returned to Stellar with the victory prize. They were about to eat the pizza when April decided to get some drinks to quench their thirst. She remembered that they had several canes in the fridge. Once again, April went to the kitchen, hoping that boys would have forgotten all about sodas in the fridge.
Unfortunately, they already were in the kitchen, finishing off the cake. April tried to sneak up from behind their backs to the refrigerator without getting caught. She wanted to grab quickly two canes and disappear, but her plan was ruined when Colt blocked the door to the fridge with his leg.
C: "April, what do you want?"
April flinched when she had been spotted. Without answering them, she tried to open the fridge again.
FB: "April?" he waited for an answer.
A: "So, I wanted a drink! Is there something wrong about it?"
FB: "No, but you two just had tea and you still have the teapot. It is us who must be thirsty."
A: "I'll bring you the teapot in a minute."
And she tried to get her drinks again.
C: "First, you bring it to us, then you can have your sodas."
April clenched her fists, but obeyed. In the room Stellar was waiting for her.
S: "What happened there?"
A: "The guys were in the kitchen, and now it's impossible to get anything out of there without them noticing it."
S: "What? How dare do these rootless peasants prevent us in any way!"
A: "Would you like to deal with them yourself?"
Stellar gave her a nudge. Stellar rapidly got up and went to where the voices were coming from. April rushed after her. Stellar burst into the kitchen.
"What? What is this!! Who dares to rise here against the royal will? Ah?"
SR: "To tell you the truth, on this space ship you have even less rights than any of us."
S: "What?" She was really shocked to hear that. "For that I'll... I'll!!!"
FB: "Easy now, Stellar!"
A: "Yes, Stellar, please, calm down. They are right."
Stellar gave her sister a puzzled look. She didn't understand why she was also against her.
A: "A-a, you see..."
She tried to find the right words to use without offending her sister.
"This ship is part of our Planet. And, on this board, only the laws by earth work. So, according to it, here, on this very ship, all of us have equal rights."
S: "Then why he is saying that I have less rights then you?!" resented the princess.
A: "Please try to understand, the crew of any ship always have more rights than any of its passengers or guests."
S: "But I'm a princess! And your space craft landed on surface of my planet."
C: "We also have one princess here."
SR: Yes, April. Go and work it out with her as equals. I'm tired of listening to all of this nonsense."
A: "All right. Just give us the lemonade for what I came for."
FB: "You mean there are some left?"
A: "Fireball, I've bought them for myself."
FB: "But now you can share them with all of us."
A: "Yeah, sure. You can have 3 canes, but the rest is ours!"
SR: "April. Have you brought the teapot?"
A: "Yes, yes..." she gave them the teapot and left with Stellar to finish the pizza in her room.
A: "Stellar, it would be better not to challenge the boys. They are too independent even from the regulations we have back on Earth. You better apologize to them, unless you want to spoil your relationship with them."
S: "What?! Me... beg for forgiveness...?! Anyways, I don't care what they'll think about me!"
A: "You are my sister. And you've made a bad impression on them. You and me, we look so much alike that it can interfere with MY friendship with them. Then, I won't be able to work with them anymore. During the fight, it's very important to trust and depend in each other."
S: "What is it to you? They'll fly away, you'll stay here."
A: "That's Impossible."
S: "Mother won't let you go."
A: "I'll go anyway."
S: "And, I'll be alone again? I don't think so."
A: "You can come with me." offered April.
S: "How many times do I have to repeat it - mother won't let any of us go away. We belong to Lavana! How come you don't get it? Without her permission, Remrod will never take off from here, not to mention leave!
A: "I'll speak to her." Stellar gave her sister a puzzled look.
A: "Where shall we stay for the night?"
She changed the subject.
S: "Let's stay here." Stellar paused and continued. "And... Well, I'll apologize to the boys."
A: "Better do it now."
S: "Okay."
The girls returned to the kitchen. Stellar halfheartedly stopped at the threshold, not knowing where to begin. To buck up her sister, April lightly nudged her forward and said:
A: "Stellar want to tell you something."
S: "Yeah, I wanted to tell you, I'm sorry, that I shouted at you. I'm so sorry!"
Stellar put her tongue out and run back to April's room. April stayed with the guys.
FB: "Some sister you have there!"
April shrugged.
C: "I like her!"
FB: "Sure you do! You like every girl you see."
A: "We'll stay at Remrod tonight."
SR: "And where Stellar will sleep tonight?"
A: "I have two-story bed."
April was surprised that they never noticed this. "If my mother calls, please, tell her that we are staying here tonight."
FB: "Okay."
April went back to her sister.
A: " Lets go for a walk." Offered April, when all cups, saucers and spoons were cleaned and the room gained a decent look again.
S: "No, it's too wet out there." Stellar screwed up. "And it will be dark soon."
A: "Yes, it gets dark amazingly fast here."
S: "What do you mean? You have a longer day?"
A: "Aha. The difference is that our day is 24 hours long while your day is only 18 hours long. Nearly six hours difference. Of course, all planets have their own day-length, but its always somewhere the same."
April has quickly done all necessary calculations. April spent some more time explaining to Stellar what an hour is to what a meter is since Lavanians were using a different system of measurements.
S: "To tell you the truth, I'm tired of all this scientific nonsense. Let's talk about something more interesting."
A: "We can watch the sunset."
S: "Can we do it through monitors?"
April smiled. Viewing the sunset through monitors was like watching paintings on TV. Stellar sighed and leaded to the way out. Their elegant festival gowns had not dried yet, so April put on her everyday suit and offered to Stellar one of her clothing out of the closet.
* * *
A light fresh wind blew on the glade, and night came. There was no moon in the sky and almost no stars. It seemed that Lavana without its sun was lost deep in space far from any other worlds. The girls walked in the rising mist not far away from Remrod.
S: "It's interesting why mother never mentioned to me that I have a sister?"
A: "I'm more curious why daddy always said that my mother died!"
S: "It's easy. You wouldn't try to find her if you knew that she's dead. If it had not been for the enemies of yours, you would not come looking through the dust cloud."
A: "Yea... I understand... You know, when mother called me daughter I felt a little ashamed. I guess I'm kinda use to have a dad only, but now I have mother, dad and you - my sister."
She griped Stellar's hand. They walked in silence for some minutes. They made a circle and came out from the meadows where the Earth battle ship was resting.
* * *
A new day came. The last day on hospitable Lavana. Remrod was leaving at noon to catch up with the Earth starfleet under Commander Eagle's command.
A: "Well, Stellar, will you come with me or stay here?"
S: "I don't know. I would like to go with you, but mother won't let me."
A: "I promise to speak with her."
S: "I don't think that it's going to work, but... it won't do any harm either."
A: "We'll see."
The Star Sheriffs and Stellar were having breakfast made out of convenience foods, which was bought back at one of the planets on their way here. Stellar has declared that this was hardly eatable. Mumbling something about their royal kitchen and her favorite dishes she ate her portion quick enough. Meantime, April, who was digging in the firdge, had found a long ago forgotten gallon of ice cream. At the same time, the boys decided to have lunch too, and they were right at time.
FB: "Whoo! Ice cream!"
He took a spoon and jumped to the ice cream in April's arms. He tried to carefully push her away but it wasn't so easy. Meanwhile, Colt had joined Fireball in his effort. As the most well-mannered Saber Rider stood aside with his spoon ready and waiting for a right moment to wrest the ice cream. Feeling that boys were overcoming, April used a trick to get her out of the mess.
A: "Boys, where are your manners? Look at Saber Rider - he is not like you."
Baffled Colt and Fireball looked at their leader. This was the moment April needed and along with Stellar they slipped out from the kitchen and blocking the door behind them.
"First make yourself scrambled eggs, and only after you'll get some ice cream. And the quicker you'll do it the more you'll get!" they heard April's voice behind the door.
When they heard dishes ding - boys have begun to prepare their meal - the girls quietly unlocked the door and went to finish the ice cream in the control-room. It was first Stellar's visit here.
A: "Well, what are you going to say?" one sister asked to another sister when she looked around.
S: "A-a... I'm..."
April took it as a compliment and continued to say.
A: "I've designed it."
S: "Well, it a little bit old fashion, but it'll do!" she reassured April.
A: "You mean you have better ships?" April immediately became interested.
A spare idea especially if it belongs to other civilization never always can help.
"Can we see them?"
S: "No. The entrance to the ships is guarded well by the robots subordinating only to the Queen of Lavana."
April raised her hand and knocked on the ring on her finger. Stellar understood the tip-off.
S: "It won't do. Those robots were installed after the Kings departure."
A: "I can ask a mother then to give us a permit?"
S: "You already are going to ask her for too much. I'm not sure that you'll get at least a little."
The boys entered in to the control-room. After the meal they weren't so pushy. Anyway they finished the ice cream in no time.
FB: "This is the last day in this haven!" he said stretching in his settle unit.
There was a pause. Anytime when someone started to talk about leaving this place it always ended up in silence. Everyone was too uncertain in everything.
A: "We'll go to the castle." declared a new made princess after showing Stellar the Remrod.
The boys exchanged glance they thought that this is it - she refused to continue work with them.
C: "Well, see you later then."
Colt wanted to say good bye but someone hit him from behind.
"We are not leaving yet!" he heard a whisper and Colt shut up.
A: "Have you find out the Outrider coordinates?"
SR: "At the very first day."
A: "That's good."
Then the girls left the ship.
C: "What shall we do? April has taken some of her belongings."
FB: "We should report this to Commander Eagle."
SR: "How? This dust cloud is opaque for the radio waves. Furthermore, we don't even know if THEY will let this communication go through the Lavana force field."
C: "And one more thing - the Outriders may find out that we are short on the crew."
FB: "Then there is only one thing to do left - launch off, goout from the dust cloud and inform Commander by the direct radio beam.
* * *
A and S: "Good morning!
""Good morning, girls!" answered Clio.
Twins have found their mother nearby the castle.
A: "I've came to say good bye. Today we should go." April kept her eyes away from her mother and her sister.
"You don't want to stay with us?" the Queen asked sadly.
A: "It's beautiful here but I must go. We are a team and without me they won't manage. I can't let them down."
"I understand... You have to go. But promise me that you'll visit us often enough."
A: "Of course! Now than I'm aware of your existence nothing can keep me away from you!" exclaimed April and added softly "I hardly will be able to live without you!"
Stellar stood nearby. She was amazed how easy her mother let go her daughter.
Clio went silent. April also didn't sad anything else. She didn't know how to say that Stellar also wants to leave her. Like all mothers Clio sensed her own children.
"You want to ask for something?"
A: "Ah... Well..." started April, "I don't like to be separated with Stellar again. May she come with me?"
April waited for categorical NO, after all Stellar has curtained her that they'll nether will be able to leave Lavana together.
"You both want to leave me alone here?" Clio answered in an injured voice, but her face didn't show anything except maternal love.
April said nothing, looking at the floor. Stellar seemed to have disappeared.
"Call her to me!" April felt a slight hope.
She found her sister at the nearest corner.
S: "Well that's it. Time to say farewell."
A: "What?" she didn't listen to her, "We have to go. Quick!" she grasped Stellar's hand and brought her back to their mother.
Clio embraced both her daughters and led them to the summerhouse. When everyone took their places the Queen has asked Stellar: "Are you sure you want to go?"
Stellar silently nodded. She bit her eyes into the mother's face. No matter how hard it was for Clio to let go of her daughter she decided to do it last night. When the twins were walking in the woods, Lasana came to the Queen. Her friend understood her condition and they had talked for the half of the night. Lasana had reminded the Queen that once she was young and impatient too, and ready to fight everyone when her liberty was threatened. Yes, the Queen Clio did remember, she did understand, and she knew how it felt. But still it was hard decision. She remembered Earth - world of human. She knew that there would be scums around, ready to use her innocent child, and she just couldn't, simply couldn't let her Stellar go there.
"Earth is not a place for the princesses." in queen mind's eye pictures were changing of her native planet, and not all of them were nice ones.
"People there are different from the ones you knew. You'll have to learn to always look behind you and be on guard. You'll never know what's on their mind. Those people are capable for a larceny, a treachery and even a murder..."
A: "Earth have radically changed in the past years. The necessity to fight with the Outriders have united people... Well, with a few exceptions, of course, but she will always be with me and nothing bad will happen to her! I grew up there and I know the laws on which people are living there. Besides, our daddy is there, he'll look after us, and don't forget my friends. Are they not worthy enough to become personal guards of our royal highnesses?!"
"You thought of everything already!" admired the Queen.
A: "Not everything, but... all I know is that I don't want to apart from Stellar!"
S: "Yes mother, we want to be together!"
"Well then. Let it be so. But April for this you must to reason your father to come down on Lavana."
A: "He'll do it gladly!"
"Maybe. But it seems like he's afraid to do it. He's afraid he won't have enough strength to leave this place again. April, have you understood your mission? I want to see your father!"
A: "Yes, mother, as soon as I'll see him..."
"Go girls, you have much to do." the Queen looked weary now it became obviously she didn't sleep this night.
Girls hugged their mother good bye and rushed to collect Stellar's belongings. On the way the princess has grabbed a pair of robots to help her collect her things. Stellar only was throwing out her best clothes out from the closet on the bad, chairs or on the floor.
A: "Don't take everything!" she warned her sister
"There is not enough place at Remrod to all your outfits."
S: "What should I do without it?" the princess was really amazed.
A: "Take only the most necessary things with you. Three gala howns will be enough."
Stellar gave her sister a broken look and ordered the robots to take out some of the dresses. In two hours her belongings were finally packed and waiting at the backyard, ready to be transported to the Remrod. Despite April's hard work in reducing the luggage quantity it was still too much
A: "Seams like Remrod will stow to the top with the royal luggage and will become a transport instead of a battle ship. You'll have to leave here not less then a half of it!"
S: "Never!"
A: "Stellar!"
S: "What!? I'm used to my stuff!"
A: "Take this one, that one and this trunk. Well and this box!" ordered April to the robots.
S: "No! Load everything!" interfered the owner of the stuff.
A: "Load only what I've said. The rest of it take back to the princess's chambers."
Of course the robots were obeying April - she had the royal ring on her finger. Stellar took umbrage at everyone and disappeared. April sent the robots and the luggage to the Remrod. At noon the boys came. With sad faces, they approached April to say goodbye.
SR: "April...
A: "Yes Saber."
SR: "We have to go..."
A: "I know..." she started to say, but was interrupted.
SR: "If you want we could visit you sometimes." his tone was almost pleading and compassive.
Looking at their faces, she noticed their sadness, almost like all of them would break in tears. April couldn't understand why they decided to say those words. Meanwhile, Stellar come to April from the behind. April felt Stellar's approach and turned to her hoping that she could explain what was going on. Now April recalled that she didn't tell boys that Stellar will go with them. She was about to open her mouth and tell them great news when Stellar started to speak.
S: "How nice of you came to say farewell. Put some snap in to it!"
But at the same time she thought: 'They haven't saw my luggage coming their direction... Gosh, they like April so much... Hope one day they'll like me too!.. They are anguish just of the thought that they have to leave her. I'll give them some more moments to suffer.' and added in loud:
"We have much to do today. I have big plans for the two of us."
April didn't interfere in Stellar's game. She just stood there with eyes on the floor, trying hard not to laugh. The boys were now sure about their suspicion of her leaving them. Once again they said "Bye" to her and slowly turned around, walking away from them, looking behind every step lingering along to the ship.
A: "Now what?!" She asked when they were out of reach
S: "We have to be on Remrod before them. Otherwise they'll see my luggage and they'll find out the truth! If that happens we won't get to have some fun with them."
A: "Right!" she agreed with her sister, and twins run to the nearest flying platforms "stop", making sure of to be the first ones on board.
By that time, the Star Sheriffs were approaching Remrod through the park. Suddenly Fireball stopped. Saber Rider turned to him. He had foreseen that something like this would happen. By the expression on his friend's face Saber Rider understood that his worst suspicion came true.
FB: "I can't go!"
Colt and Saber Rider silently watched him.
FB: "What will I do without April?"
C: "The same what you did, when she was with us."
FB: "No! I'll stay here!"
SR: "But what will you do here?" Saber Rider's position at a Star Sheriffs leader became worse and worse with each minute passing by - his group was falling apart right in front of his eyes.
FB: "I'll be with April. You know what we... You know what I mean!"
C: "But she's got her family here. Who do you have here on this planet?"
FB: "Maybe my family is also here! No one knows where are my parents. Where did they came from..."
SR: "But King Jarret has told about your father's death..."
FB: "And he never mentioned where my father come from."
Saber Rider said nothing. After all, he couldn't force people to do that they didn't want to.
SR: "We need you, Fireball!"
FB: "I better stay here."
Saber Rider reproachful look at his friend and he couldn't understand why Fireball's decisiveness, gallantry and finally liability disappeared in minutes.
FB: "I don't think, what I'll be much help now."- mumbled Fireball under his breath.
He didn't look at Saber Rider nor at Colt and silently shifted from foot to foot. Finally, after a long pause he sad:
"I'll see you off."
"C: "You know Saber Rider, I like to stay here too!"
SR: "What?" he was ready to break in curses but was able to restrain himself.
C: "Remember that girl what I meet at the Birthday party. Well, she likes me."
SR: "No Colt, you'll come with me!" he shook Colt hard "Colt, Fireball this is your duty! How can you?!" he choked in anger.
Fireball firmly stood with his decision to stay on Lavana.
C: "OK, Saber, I'll go with you."
Colt as well as Fireball saw Saber Rider in fury for the first time and this spectacle really made them shiver.
C: "But can I see Tola before we'll leave?" Colt started to bargain.
SR: "No!" cut the leader "Once and for all - No!"
Colt grimaced, but it didn't help. The rest of the way, they were silent. The delay was on hand to the twins. Stellar and April had time to ordered robots to carry Stellar's luggage to the ship. So when Saber Rider, Colt and Fireball appeared near the Remrod nothing pointed to girls presence. The boys went into the hatch. It was done in a deep stillness. Then the door from the lower deck opened and all three of them stepped in when water out of nowhere came running down on them followed by confetti. After one bucket fell down on Colt. It was as a signal. The twins came running out from different corners.
A and S: "Surprise!" and they laughed.
The boys completely forgot about their miserable condition and eyed in amazement over April and Stellar.
A: "We are coming with you!"
S: "Yep!"
It seamed like the boys didn't understood what twins just have told them. Then their speechless wonderment was replaced by the wild joy, and of course Fireball's decision to stay on Lavana was forgotten.
* * *
Through several minutes after Remrod, without any difficulties, lifted off, making several circles around planet before leaving the Lavana System completely to join with the fleet of the Cavalry Command. The Queen saw, as in Lavanian azure skies a small day star disappeared. And this small star carried away her daughters. Deep in her heart she knew that it would happen someday. That's why she was so afraid then an alien of a vessel came so close to the planet's force field. Now only sadness was left heavy inside her, black sadness...
* * *
The Lavanian defensive force field was passed without any difficulties. Several hours of flight and Remrod has flown in the airlock of fleet's flagman ship. The Star Sheriffs and Stellar came to report to Commander Eagle. After hearing of what they have found out he said:
CE: "Star Sheriffs, I want to ask you to keep information about my kingdom as a secret." and not seeing the boys anymore he grabbed both his daughters in a big hug.
"At last, both of you together again! Tell me now how are they down there?"
A: "Mother let Stellar come here with me only on one condition - you must go down there to see her."
CE: "I will, after we'll defeat the Outriders in this area. Only after that I suppose we'll deserved a good vacation on Lavana."
S and A: "Right!"
Their father looked in amazement at his girls. 'They are copies of each other' he thought.
S: "If you only would know how great to have a father!.."
A: "...And a mother!"
Twins told to their father the story of how they got acquainted, becoming friends and later quarreled, but afterwards they found out that they were sisters and all misunderstandings were forgotten.
A: "Here" April gave a ring back to her father.
CE: "Did it help you?"
A: "Well, a little bit," and girls exchanged glances both recalled a fight for Stellar's luggage.
* * *
The earth ships raced to meeting unseeable, but certain danger, which was waiting for them deep under the surface of nameless planet and ready to throw all its might in multiple Outrider squads with Jesse Blue to lead them.
The End.