CHAPTER THREE

"The Rebellion and Teela's Surprise"

The winds of the dessert were caused by no natural phenomena. A large transport ship filled with Horde troops headed East towards the Great Towers. Nothing really out of the ordinary. The troops were in need of an up-grade and therefore, were ordered to report to the Great Towers for one.

"All ship systems are fully functional," said the commanding Trooper.

"Excellent. Continue on course," replied his second-in-command.

"Wait a minute," said a third. "What is that?"

The bridge crew looked out the large open area towards a sand dune. The transport slowed down so as to catch a glimpse of . . . something out there.

"It looks like some sort of . . . pole."

"Then why is it shrinking?"

"Wait! What is this?"

Suddenly, two missiles came barreling from the sand dune and smashed right into the transport ship. It exploded wildly. Two more missiles shot forth, completely demolishing the vessel. There was soon nothing more than burning debris on the sandy floor.

"Great shot!" shouted Teela from the sand dune.

"Thanks," answered Clamp Champ from the Battle Ram. "It's good to know this thing still's got it."

"Trouble," said Mekaneck suddenly.

"What is it?" asked Startos, the final member of the rebellion.

"Someone on a horse checking out the debris."

"Do you know who he is?" Teela asked.

"No. He's armored."

"Friend or foe," mused Clamp Champ.

"Probably foe. He's on his way here. And fast."

Teela took immediate command of the situation. "Form a defensive barrier. I want to be completely prepared to ensnare him and - "

But she was too late. The armored figure appeared on top of the sand dune. Before anyone could say anything, Clamp Champ fired a beam of energy straight at him. The figure dodged it and fired a cord around Clamp Champ, trapping him completely.

"Hey!"

Startos flew forward then, ready to pummel the figure. The figure dropped to the ground and fired a stun grenade at the flying hero.

Mekaneck came from behind, ready to bash the man's head in. The figure spun around and kicked the club out of his hand, then followed through and kicked Mekaneck to the ground, capturing him in a net.

Just then, Teela's snake staff caught figure off guard. He fell to the sand, but stood immediately. While he did this, he also unleashed a long, silver blade. He used this to block a thrust made by Teela.

"Is your memory not working?" asked the man.

"Should it be?" she answered in question.

"Yes."

He kicked her legs out and she fell to the ground. Just as Teela was about to pummel him with her staff, he kicked it from her hands.

"Don't you recognize this sword?" he asked her.

"I . . . what . . ." she gazed, her eyes transfixed on the sword. "Yes. That's He-Man's sword! How did you get that? He's gone!"

"Not anymore."

The figure removed the helmet. He-Man's face was underneath.

"HE-MAN!" she shouted.

She ran over to him and hugged the great warrior.

"Teela . . ." he whispered.

"We . . ." she stuttered, "we were so worried you'd never . . . never come back . . . oh, He-Man, so much has changed . . . so much . . ."

"I know. I've seen Eternos. I spoke with the Soceress and Gwildor."

She pulled back. "You've spoken with the Soceress? She hasn't left Castle Grayskull since you departed, He-Man. Nor has she let anyone in."

"I know. There's still much I need to learn. Like where your father and the others are."

She paused. "I'll tell you, but not here. Come on. Let's free the others."

As they did so, each one of the rebels greeted He-Man with a smile and a laugh.

"Good to see you again, old friend," said Stratos.

"Same here, pal. A friendly face is always welcome," Mekaneck greeted as well.

"Nice to have a companion," Clamp Champ told him.

"Where is Prince Adam?" asked Teela.

He-Man paused. He felt a strange urge to tell her the truth. That he and Prince Adam were one and the same. But for some reason, habit kicked back in and he found himself lying to her.

"Grayskull."

"I see. Well, we should be moving before Hordak sends his forces to come look for this transport."

"Right. Stridor! Come!"

The robotic horse raced over and the whole gang marched south.

***

A few hours began to roll by and He-Man learned the fate of his friends and the people he once protected. He and Teela sat at the edge of a small and hidden cave where the four of them were staying.

"Every town and village has been fenced in and guarded. No one goes in nor out," explained Teela.

"What about the others?"

"My father, Oroko, Ram Man . . . all of the others are on Etheria, in the Fright Zone. At least that is what we believe. We know they're alive, at least. Hordak has killed very few. He keeps talking about their 'life-force' being so strong,'" she explained.

"Terrible," said He-Man. "What about She-Ra?"

"We haven't heard anything. From what we know, Etheria has been completely overrun. And however it happened, it happened quickly."

"I see."

There was a moment of silence between the two and they both looked out into the horizon. "We . . . were afraid you would never return."

"I told you all I would."

"I know you did," replied Teela as she played with her long ponytail. "But when the Great Towers were taken and my father fell to Hordak, it suddenly stopped being so much fun, you know? It was then that everything got very serious. Before I knew it, we four were the only ones left."

"I've come back," he attempted.

"I'm very grateful for that. Trust me."

He-Man looked at the young woman that he had known for so many years. There was something much different to her now. Something . . . she was hiding.

"What is it?" he asked.

"He-Man," she started. Teela paused. She wanted to tell him. She wanted to so badly. "A lot has changed. So much."

"You'd be surprised how many times I've heard that in the past three days," he returned. He put his hand on hers.

She grinned. "I bet. But it's the truth. There has been so much that is different now. So many lives . . . altered."

Teela went silent and looked down. She removed her hand from He-Man and put it in her own. There was a look on her face that told He-Man that there was some of emotional scar there that she wasn't ready to expose.

"Hey," he offered. He brushed a stray hair out of her face. She put her small hand in his once again and turned to face him. "What is it?"

"Too much," she said.

"Did somebody hurt you?"

"No. Not directly, at least."

He squeezed her hand. "It's okay."

"No. No it's not."

He-Man looked into her eyes. "I'm here now, Teela. I'll watch over you all."

"I know, He-Man. We need somebody like you," she answered, resorting to business instead of emotion. She noticed how close in he was leaning.

"I'll watch over you."

Teela paused. He-Man moved in ever closer, feeling now drawn to her lips. The two of them found themselves now in a passionate kiss. He-Man grabbed hold of her and pushed her body against his.

The young female warrior broke first and quickly stood up. The sun was now gone and the stars were making their way out.

"I . . ." she started.

"I'm sorry," He-Man apologized. "I don't know what came over me. I guess it's been so long and I - "

"No. No, it's okay. I . . ." she began. "Tomorrow we're heading into a secret cavern in the mountains east of the Sands of Time. There's nearly seventy survivors hiding out there. They'll be securing a secret route for us. We're planning on hearing from them shortly."

He-Man stood and nodded. "Good. Sounds . . . good."

She faced him. "Good night."

"Night."

Teela walked back into the cave. He-Man watched her as she did so, then waited and looked out at the stars.

"Well," he laughed, "this is a great start."

***

Crossing through the Sands of Time was no easy thing to do, but the group had done it before. With the correct directions, it's fairly capable to get through without worrying about Hordak nor accidentally getting stuck in a legendary 'Time Storm.'

Nothing has been said of the previous kiss, but still - conversation continued through the group. As the morning rose, He-Man found that he and his fellow warriors spoke nothing but of the events while separated.

He-Man couldn't help but feel guilty. His stories seemed much more exciting and up lifting than theirs. But still, the entire group was taking them in in large doses. In fact, it made them all feel a lot better and lightened the overall mood.

***

Meanwhile, in the Desert . . .

Mantenna stood above the wreckage of the transport that the rebels had destroyed. He opened a comm-link to the Great Towers.

"Master Hordak, it is true. The rebels have demolished the transport," Mantenna reported, his large eyes still surveying the area.

"Curse them!" shouted the power-hungry fiend. "Try to find them."

"We're trying, but many of their tracks have been whisked away. It's very difficult. I'm sorry to say, sir, but -"

Hordak snorted with rage. "But nothing! Find them! Find them all and bring them to me!"

***

After travelling all day, all night, and mid-way through this day, He-Man was running out of stories to tell.

"How much farther?" he asked.

"Not much."

And so, they continued on until they all reached a dense forest. Even as they entered the seemingly light-less forest, He-Man could feel eyes all around him. They searched him and wondered what he was doing here.

"Teela . . ."

"I know. It's safe. Not to worry."

Finally, the party of five arrived at a small cave entrance. Almost immediately, a lone and armored figure appeared before them.

"About time you showed up," he said.

"I know you," said He-Man.

"Yeah. And I know you. Good to see you're back."

"Lubic?" asked the heroic warrior. "From Earth?"

"Damn straight. I'm the one guarding this place," replied the human refugee.

"Lubic," said Teela. "We need in. The people of Eternia need to know. He-Man has returned. They need hope. They need to see him."

"Right," Lubic said. "I suppose this means our contingency plan is over with."

Teela looked harshly at him.

"What contingency plan?" asked He-Man. No one answered as they walked down the long cave. "What contingency plan?"

"Don't worry about it, He-Man. Don't worry about it."

They reached a stone wall. Teela raised her hand against it and moved her hand left, then down, then pushed.

Startos then walked over and placed his hand on the wall and moved his hand right, then up, and pushed.

Finally, Lubic walked over and pressed his against the wall and made a circle, then pushed.

The wall opened into a door. Beyond the door was a vast array of tents and shanty houses. As soon as the gang entered, the people began to gather and look up. When they saw He-Man entering their midst, they began to talk amongst themselves.

"Better give them a speech, big guy," suggested Clamp Champ in a whisper.

"Right," he said. "People of Eternia! I have returned to save you once again. I am sorry for my absence, but matters out of my control forced me to leave you. Now I stand before you, ready to defend you all once again. The time is coming when Hordak will fall and you will all return to your homes! Until then, let us gather our strength. The days ahead will be difficult, but we must be strong enough to handle it. Thank you."

He-Man and the others made their way down a set of stairs that led to the floor of the cavern. The people parted for him and the rebellion force.

Just then, a young child - around the age of three and a half - came running out of the crowd and towards He-Man and his allies.

"Momma! Momma!" the boy shouted.

He-Man watched as the young child ran through the gang . . . and into the arms of Teela. She hugged the kid and smiled warmly at him.

"Hello Addison. Did you miss Mommy?"

He-Man's jaw dropped. "What . . .?"

"This is my son, He-Man," Teela told him as she hugged the child named Addison.

"Your . . . son?"

She gave him a half-hearted smile. "Surprise."