Return to Earth
Chapter Five
by Mercutio
Governor Une Spacehart gracefully stepped out of the shuttle that had brought her from her colony to Solopolis. At first glance, she did not give the appearance of someone with the power of controlling Rezzaka, the city that was still occasionally referred to by its archaic name of L-2.
Une was adored by the people of Rezzaka, so much that they would have easily elected her if asked. However, governors were appointed by Emperor Tybalt, who chose her mainly because of her promising lineage. The Spacehart family was very active in the Empire. Une's brothers Jude and Genzara were both in the military, and her younger sister Lydia was one of the royal doctors. Une had one other sister, but she had long ago turned her back on the Empire and the Spacehart family. She was never spoken of.
Une was young for a governor, as she was not yet thirty, and her soft brown hair that as the moment was braided into a crown around her forehead complemented her large, innocent looking brown eyes to give her a rather inexperienced and naïve look. Her body was tall and lithe and very graceful and delicate at first glance, although her hands were surprisingly rough and coarse. Because of that, she always wore gloves in public and was so protective of them that she would not even take her gloves off to eat, nor would she let anyone touch or look upon her hands without the gloves. The only reason it was known how rough they were was that someone had noticed when Une had been quite frantically washing them in a public restroom for several minutes.
As soon as she left the shuttle, Governor Spacehart was greeted by Colonel Winner himself. He stood at attention with his hands at his side, although he was Spacehart's superior, but he extended his right hand in greeting when the governor came close enough. He was tall and thin, with a face that looked serious even when he was smiling. His steely blue eyes never left eye contact with Une. Although he was not old, his neatly trimmed black beard and hair was starting to gray.
"Good day, Governor Spacehart," he said as cordially as he could with a voice so serious.
"Likewise, Colonel Winner. I wasn't expecting such a prestigious escort to the meeting," she replied.
"I thought it would be nice to talk for a bit while we get to the palace. Do you mind taking my personal car? I can order a taxi for you if you would prefer," he offered.
"Not at all," Spacehart replied. "What is it you need to talk about?
"Let's wait until we get inside the car. It's just over there," Winner said with a hint of pride as he pointed a few yards away. It was obvious he was proud of the vehicle. "So how are things in Rezzaka?"
"Decent, I suppose," Une said. "There's a little bit of unrest over the expedition to Earth. Some of the citizens feel that it will take away some of their independence. They're very proud of their water- and soil- recycling facilities," she said with a slight sad smile.
"Yes, so I hear. The expedition is one of the subjects of today's meeting. You seem to like Rezzaka very much, don't you?"
"I love it. I would do anything for it. Rezzaka means more than anything to me," replied Une with the same smile.
Winner sighed. "That's why you're so loved by the citizens. Sometimes I wish I had power like that. To have the people love me."
"You're a colonel. You're even higher in rank than me." The smile was almost eerie in its unbending calmness by now.
"But who has the most power, really? Someone who orders people, or someone who influences them?"
She didn't answer. Once they had boarded the car to the palace, Winner broke the silence once more. "You do know why this meeting was called together by the Emperor, do you not?"
"I was told he needed to discuss the expedition and the soil and water issues."
"Yes, yes. But there's something... wrong with the expedition. Have you looked at the list of who was sent?" Winner asked.
Governor Spacehart shook her head slowly. "No, that information has not been made available to me. I know that some civilian mechanic from Rezzaka named Jessen Maxwell was one of those sent because I received a complaint letter about his enlisting. I felt sorry for him, but I am as unable as him to override General Noin."
"Yes, Mr. Maxwell was one of those chosen to go," Winner said as he coughed. "Here are the names of the others." He handed her a small sheet of metal, which she placed in the displayer that she carried on her. A small holographic screen popped up, and a list of names appeared.
"Hmm…" Une hummed as she read over the list of names. "Well, there's Dr. Fatima, Dr. Po, and Dr. Kushrenada. I recognize those names. I don't understand why Dr. Mayaka is on the roster, though. Isn't she one of those radical psychologists?"
"Yes," Winner confirmed.
Une shrugged. "Well, with the exception of Dr. Mayaka and Mr. Maxwell, the list looks perfectly normal. The other three all helped design the IOMSes, so I don't see anything wrong with it."
"Did you look at who's escorting them, Governor Spacehart?"
"Privates Ëhen, Falcon, Jehan, and Winner. Is that Winner related to you by any chance, Colonel?"
Winner sighed. "She married into the family. But Governor Spacehart, please look down on the list at who else is escorting them."
Une nodded quietly and glanced down the list before letting out a short gasp. "Ge... General Noin was sent? But why?"
Winner could only sadly shrug. "No one knows. It's especially strange since the General is the Emperor's crutch whenever he feels down. The way he just tossed her aside like that makes worries us. We fear that there may be something seriously wrong with His Majesty."
"I...I'm not sure what to say, Colonel," Governor Spacehart admitted. "I know that the public unrest over the Empire controlling their water and soil supplies has deeply concerned him, but I can't imagine him just throwing his military power away over it. If anything, one would think that he would wish to keep the General by his side."
Winner shook his head somberly. "It runs in the family. Did you remember your parents ever talking to you about Princess Relena and Empress Lucrezia?"
"Yes, some. Although there was never any proof that the princess herself suffered from any mental illnesses," said Spacehart.
"Some would argue differently. Besides, surely you can't differ with me regarding the Empress."
"No, I don't think anyone could there. So since Emperor Tybalt sent his beloved cousin away and had a crazy grandmother and a great-aunt with no proven problems, you think he's gone crazy."
Winner wore an uneasy look on his face. "Well, I wouldn't put it exactly in those words."
"Then what words would you put it in, Colonel?" the governor asked. She was becoming quite irritated that he arranged for her to come to Solopolis earlier than necessary just to talk over something like this, and it was becoming noticeable as her smile slowly faded.
"We're just... concerned for him, that's all. We don't think it's healthy for him to send General Noin away like that. We're afraid that without her, he may make some choices that are rather..." He paused for a moment.
"Please continue," Une said patiently.
"Choices that may be unwise for both himself and the Empire."
"He knows what he's doing, Colonel. I'm sure that every action he performs is with the Empire in mind. While it is thoughtful for you to be concerned, it is rash to be so alarmed," Une said.
Winner sighed. "Maybe you're right. I'm sorry for taking up your time. The meeting begins in but a few moments. Shall we head for the palace?"
* ~ *
Rua ran like she had never run before. The six IOMSes were still chasing after them as their lasers pierced the air and came close to killing her more than once. The dusty snow had begun to fall heavier and started to obscure her vision with a gray curtain the covered her eyes. Rua hoped that it could only do the same for the IOMSes.
"Is there any shelter nearby?" General Noin demanded of Ëhen as she panted.
"There's the control shed that we left earlier," he offered hopelessly. "Wait... there's something else coming up on the radar. It appears to be a large mass of metal. Maybe a crashed ship or ruined ore mine."
"Whatever it is, it's better than being out in the open," said Falcon.
"Not if the IOMSes blow it up while we're all inside it like they tried to do with the Queen Relena. However, it would provide at least a temporary barricade to shoot from. How far away is it, Ëhen?" Noin asked.
"About a mile in the distance. You can just barely see it in between those mountains over there!" he said as he pointed forward. Through the snows of the blizzard, they could barely even see the mountains themselves.
"All I see is a valley," Noin said.
"Trust me, ma'am, it's there," Ëhen said enthusiastically.
Suddenly, they heard a cry out from behind them, and they turned to see Czelise collapsing in the snow, blood pouring out of her left leg and staining the snow a deep crimson. Czelise was just staring at them, as if refusing to look back at her injury.
"Ëhen! Falcon! Help Dr. Mayaka while we run ahead!" Noin ordered.
"Yes ma'am!" they both replied. The soldiers ran back to help her up. "Do you think you can walk on your own?" Falcon asked. Czelise bit her lip and shook her head 'no'. "I'll carry her, Ëhen," Falcon offered. "You take the guns and protect our backs."
"Good idea," Ëhen nodded. He accepted Falcon's gun and used both of the small laser pistols to shoot at the IOMSes as Falcon gently scooped Czelise up into his arms and started trotting after the rest of the group as Ëhen fired at the IOMSes, alternating guns. There was a satisfying explosion as one of the shots hit an IOMS.
"One down, five to- unnnngh!" Ëhen grunted as a retaliating laser pierced his chest and he fell to the ground.
"Ëhen!" Flacon yelled as he saw him go down.
"Take the... gun," Ëhen said as he tossed it towards Falcon. It landed in Czelise's lap and she let out a soft moan. Ëhen wanted to do something for his fallen companion, but he couldn't carry both the wounded people. He continued running as the barrage of laser fire continued.
"Dr. Mayaka, do you think you can pick up that gun and fire over my shoulder?" he asked desperately. He wasn't sure how much longer he could dodge the attacks.
"Uhhhhh?" she groaned deliriously. It was obvious that she was losing a lot of blood and starting to feel lightheaded.
"Can you shoot those things behind me?" he said again.
"Ohhh. Okay..." she said as she picked up the pistol and fired randomly behind them.
"Dr. Mayaka, I know you're feeling a little giddy right now, but do you think you could try and aim for them instead of just firing all over the place?" Falcon asked uncomfortably.
"They stopped," Czelise said simply.
"What?" exclaimed the soldier.
"They stopped. Look," she said as she pointed a limp hand in the direction of the IOMSes. Falcon squinted through the blinding snow. Four of the IOMSes were gathered in a small circle around one that had stopped moving. They appeared to be examining one of its spider-like legs.
"They've grouped around the injured one... like a pack of wolves," Falcon said incredulously.
"You mean they can... I was... I was right... all along? I was....." Czelise moaned as she tried to raise her head to examine them better. "I... was..."
"Now's not the time, Dr. Mayaka. We need to catch up with the others before the IOMSes start chasing after us again," Falcon interrupted. But it was too late; Czelise had already passed out.
~ * ~
If the landscape of the Earth itself had been unnerving, the small area that Ëhen had told them to go to was worse. This area was a little more flat than the jagged ground near the little control base, but there were little mounds of some unidentifiable substance covered with snow and scattered unevenly throughout the area.
Rua walked up to one of these mounds, and used her hand to try and clear away the snow covering it. It was several feet think and very tight around the object itself, but after she had dug through it for a few minutes her hand struck something solid. She scraped away more of the snow with her hands to until she was able to get a close look at what was underneath.
"Dr. Kushrenada!" she heard Noin yell. "Please don't wander away from the group at a time like this! Dr. Kushrenada!"
But Rua didn't budge.
"Dr. Kushrenada!"
Maxwell came up behind her. "Rua, what the hell are you doing? Can't you hear the general yelling for you? I mean, ignoring her at a time like this wold be more in character for myself than it would be for yo- what the hell is that?"
His eyes fell down to the small block of writing that seemed so captivating to Rua. It looked as if it was an old metal, corrupted by age, cold, and moisture, and gilded with some sort of cheap golden polish.
2465 Djuuji Blvd.
The Kushrenada Family