Title: Away and Near
Author: GundamNymph
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Space Cases or the characters, only the new ones
featured in the story.
Summary: Catalina is desperate to get back to her galaxy, due to her
impending death and personal interests. She and a friend of Suzee's find a
way back, but it's through dangerous territory. Cat/Harlan
Suzee/Andre
~~~~~~
Catalina woke six hours later. She removed the mask on her face, and slowly got off the cot. Every cell in her body seemed to ache, and she wished Rosie was there to make it better. She walked out of the med. lab, and went looking for Andre'. She found him in the engine room, monitoring. "How's everything doing?" Her voice was weak, and it cracked. Andre' looked up, and smiled at his friend. "How are YOU? You're the one that fainted." "Sore. Still a little tired. Enough about me, how are the engines?" "Everything's going smoothly. This guy must be really special, for you to be going-" "Oh, shut up. You know that's not the reason I'm going back. Keep your comments to yourself. Now, need any help?" "Not really. We should be arriving in a few hours." Catalina nodded. "We got contact with the Crysta while you were napping. They're going to try to meet up with us." "Really? But, we're headed-" "For Spung territory. Yeah, I know. And so do they. They had a vote, and it was unanimous. I got to see Harlan." "And Suzee?" "No, she was busy." Catalina rocked back and forth on her heels, wanting to ask, but wanting to keep her pride intact. "Harlan looks fine. Sorry I'm not a girl, or I'd give you the 411 on him." Cat smiled.
~~~~~~
"We're coming out of hyperspace. Radu?" "Bring her to 49/128.Theres a great hiding spot over by the moon. They shouldn't be able to detect us there." "Okay." Harlan docked the ship, and looked at his crew. "Now what?" Suzee looked at him. "We wait."
~~~~~~
Catalina gripped her armrest, as her fever rose. She was sweating, and had the shakes. Andre' came over and hugged her, dabbing at her forehead with a damp cloth. "We just have a few more hours to go, Cat. Hang on." "You act like you're worried. Tough guy that you are, I know better." "Damn right, I'm worried." "Ha!" "Get some rest. By the time we reach our destination, you should be feeling better." She didn't hear him, because she was already asleep. He leaned over, and kissed her forehead, before looking for a blanket to cover her.
~~~~~~
"Hey, Cat!" "Yeah?" Came the sleepy reply. "Get up! We have company!" Her eyes shot open. "WHAT?" "Those Spung of yours? They look like giant ugly lizards?" Her eyes focused on the screen, where she could see the Spung killcruisers closing in on them. "Oh.SHIT!" "I'll take that as a yes. Hang on! Let's take 'em for a ride."
*********
Elmira stood next to her father, watching the small ship leave hyperspace. She sent out tendrils of probing thoughts, and her eyes widened as she recognized one of the crew on board. She side glanced at her father. If he were to find the Titian, there would be NO end to the girls torture. He had not forgotten what had happened aboard the Crysta's sister ship. It was a miracle of itself that he sat beside her on his throne. She was just about to leave to warn Radu, when her Father yelled. "Woman! Tell me, who is on that ship?! I've never seen that model before." She sighed inwardly, gathering her wits. "It is from another dimension. I know not of which world." "Do you recognize the race?" He glared right into her eyes, as his crew contacted the vessel. She felt like stuttering under that cruel gaze. "The captain is of the Yensidian race. Like that of the Crysta's new engineer." Shank stroked his chin thoughtfully. "May I be excused, Father? I am tired from using my powers." "Yes, yes. You may go." Relief flooded through her, as she turned to go. She suddenly yelped in pain, as a strong grip pulled on her hair. Cruel eyes gleamed at her. "As soon as you tell me who else is on board. I have the distinct feeling your hiding something from me, Daughter." Claws buried in her scalp, breaking scales and pulling hair. "I would never do such a thing, Father. Please, you must believe me." Tears filled her eyes with this new pain. He let go after a minute, gazing at the heat censors on screen of the new ship. Elmira knelt in pain, hoping he believed her. Only she knew of her powers increasing. She was just getting up, when something came across her back. She instantly fell in pain, biting her lips to keep from howling. Shank now stood over his daughter, tazer staff in hand. He prodded her tail with the tip harshly, sending jolts of fire through her senses. "Do NOT lie to me, 'daughter'. Tell me NOW! Who else is on that ship." She wasn't able to answer right away, and she paid dearly for it. It was five minutes before he stopped his assault. "Catalina." He stopped in mid-strike. "Who?" "Catalina. She's.the Titian. The one that escaped when you didn't." Shank grinned evilly. "Now, that wasn't so bad." He turned to one of his officers, who had watched with pity. "Take her to a holding cell. I shall deal with her later." The officer gave a curt nod, before picking the princess up. They left, as Shank turned to the viewing screen. "Prepare yourselves! We have visitors!" He laughed gleefully, running his claws down the screen near his throne. Down the hallway, HasSalf gingerly carried the princess to a holding cell. "Wait." She gasped. The Spung looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "I must help her. Please HasSalf." "Your highness, you are in NO condition to help others right now." She peered up at him, blood smearing her face. She somehow managed to smile. "I owe her. Now, get me a pipe." HasSalf rolled his eyes, wincing at what was to come. "Yes, your highness."
*********
"This is NOT good, Andre'." "Did I ever say otherwise???" "STOP being a wise ass, and help me with these controls!" "Yes, Princess." The Yensidian grinned at her, highly amused even in a situation such as this. The ship rocked as the second blast hit their shields. Cat groaned. "One more direct hit like that, and we're goners!" As another blast neared them, Andre' maneuvered the ship into a roll, avoiding another hit. The other KillCruisers had taken notice of their presence, and were now attacking them as well. It took the skills of both pilots and the nav comp. to keep them from being turned into dust. "Incoming message!" Cat turned on the voice over, but not the screen. "Cat! Andre'! What's going on?! Radu just got a transmission from Elmira! She's held them off as long as she could! How are you doing?!"
*********
Suzee watched the battle as they tried to enter it unnoticed. "Hey, Suzee! Long time no see!" She glared at the speaker. "Andre'! This is NO time for your wise cracks! How's Cat?" "Funny, she just said the same thing. I think you two were separated at birth." "Impossible, and you know it! PLEASE, just tell-" "I'm FINE Suzee, but we could use a little help. Where's Elmira located???" Harlan tried to focus on steering, but it felt SO weird to hear Cat's voice after so long. It sent a wave of shivers down his spine. Radu answered. "She escaped the cells, and is heading towards the loading docks. Your ship can't sustain much longer. She advises you to enter the locking bay, as she secures a new ship." "Is she SURE about this?! One wrong move, and we're dead!" Came Andre's voice. "You don't have much of a choice! Do you have weapons???" Harlan growled. "Ye- AH!" The ship took another hit, shaking the very bolts that held it together. "Andre'! Do as the man says!" "Yes Princess!" "And STOP calling me that!" "Yes your Highness." "Argh!" The comlink was severed, and the Crysta waited.
*********
~~~~~~
Catalina woke six hours later. She removed the mask on her face, and slowly got off the cot. Every cell in her body seemed to ache, and she wished Rosie was there to make it better. She walked out of the med. lab, and went looking for Andre'. She found him in the engine room, monitoring. "How's everything doing?" Her voice was weak, and it cracked. Andre' looked up, and smiled at his friend. "How are YOU? You're the one that fainted." "Sore. Still a little tired. Enough about me, how are the engines?" "Everything's going smoothly. This guy must be really special, for you to be going-" "Oh, shut up. You know that's not the reason I'm going back. Keep your comments to yourself. Now, need any help?" "Not really. We should be arriving in a few hours." Catalina nodded. "We got contact with the Crysta while you were napping. They're going to try to meet up with us." "Really? But, we're headed-" "For Spung territory. Yeah, I know. And so do they. They had a vote, and it was unanimous. I got to see Harlan." "And Suzee?" "No, she was busy." Catalina rocked back and forth on her heels, wanting to ask, but wanting to keep her pride intact. "Harlan looks fine. Sorry I'm not a girl, or I'd give you the 411 on him." Cat smiled.
~~~~~~
"We're coming out of hyperspace. Radu?" "Bring her to 49/128.Theres a great hiding spot over by the moon. They shouldn't be able to detect us there." "Okay." Harlan docked the ship, and looked at his crew. "Now what?" Suzee looked at him. "We wait."
~~~~~~
Catalina gripped her armrest, as her fever rose. She was sweating, and had the shakes. Andre' came over and hugged her, dabbing at her forehead with a damp cloth. "We just have a few more hours to go, Cat. Hang on." "You act like you're worried. Tough guy that you are, I know better." "Damn right, I'm worried." "Ha!" "Get some rest. By the time we reach our destination, you should be feeling better." She didn't hear him, because she was already asleep. He leaned over, and kissed her forehead, before looking for a blanket to cover her.
~~~~~~
"Hey, Cat!" "Yeah?" Came the sleepy reply. "Get up! We have company!" Her eyes shot open. "WHAT?" "Those Spung of yours? They look like giant ugly lizards?" Her eyes focused on the screen, where she could see the Spung killcruisers closing in on them. "Oh.SHIT!" "I'll take that as a yes. Hang on! Let's take 'em for a ride."
*********
Elmira stood next to her father, watching the small ship leave hyperspace. She sent out tendrils of probing thoughts, and her eyes widened as she recognized one of the crew on board. She side glanced at her father. If he were to find the Titian, there would be NO end to the girls torture. He had not forgotten what had happened aboard the Crysta's sister ship. It was a miracle of itself that he sat beside her on his throne. She was just about to leave to warn Radu, when her Father yelled. "Woman! Tell me, who is on that ship?! I've never seen that model before." She sighed inwardly, gathering her wits. "It is from another dimension. I know not of which world." "Do you recognize the race?" He glared right into her eyes, as his crew contacted the vessel. She felt like stuttering under that cruel gaze. "The captain is of the Yensidian race. Like that of the Crysta's new engineer." Shank stroked his chin thoughtfully. "May I be excused, Father? I am tired from using my powers." "Yes, yes. You may go." Relief flooded through her, as she turned to go. She suddenly yelped in pain, as a strong grip pulled on her hair. Cruel eyes gleamed at her. "As soon as you tell me who else is on board. I have the distinct feeling your hiding something from me, Daughter." Claws buried in her scalp, breaking scales and pulling hair. "I would never do such a thing, Father. Please, you must believe me." Tears filled her eyes with this new pain. He let go after a minute, gazing at the heat censors on screen of the new ship. Elmira knelt in pain, hoping he believed her. Only she knew of her powers increasing. She was just getting up, when something came across her back. She instantly fell in pain, biting her lips to keep from howling. Shank now stood over his daughter, tazer staff in hand. He prodded her tail with the tip harshly, sending jolts of fire through her senses. "Do NOT lie to me, 'daughter'. Tell me NOW! Who else is on that ship." She wasn't able to answer right away, and she paid dearly for it. It was five minutes before he stopped his assault. "Catalina." He stopped in mid-strike. "Who?" "Catalina. She's.the Titian. The one that escaped when you didn't." Shank grinned evilly. "Now, that wasn't so bad." He turned to one of his officers, who had watched with pity. "Take her to a holding cell. I shall deal with her later." The officer gave a curt nod, before picking the princess up. They left, as Shank turned to the viewing screen. "Prepare yourselves! We have visitors!" He laughed gleefully, running his claws down the screen near his throne. Down the hallway, HasSalf gingerly carried the princess to a holding cell. "Wait." She gasped. The Spung looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "I must help her. Please HasSalf." "Your highness, you are in NO condition to help others right now." She peered up at him, blood smearing her face. She somehow managed to smile. "I owe her. Now, get me a pipe." HasSalf rolled his eyes, wincing at what was to come. "Yes, your highness."
*********
"This is NOT good, Andre'." "Did I ever say otherwise???" "STOP being a wise ass, and help me with these controls!" "Yes, Princess." The Yensidian grinned at her, highly amused even in a situation such as this. The ship rocked as the second blast hit their shields. Cat groaned. "One more direct hit like that, and we're goners!" As another blast neared them, Andre' maneuvered the ship into a roll, avoiding another hit. The other KillCruisers had taken notice of their presence, and were now attacking them as well. It took the skills of both pilots and the nav comp. to keep them from being turned into dust. "Incoming message!" Cat turned on the voice over, but not the screen. "Cat! Andre'! What's going on?! Radu just got a transmission from Elmira! She's held them off as long as she could! How are you doing?!"
*********
Suzee watched the battle as they tried to enter it unnoticed. "Hey, Suzee! Long time no see!" She glared at the speaker. "Andre'! This is NO time for your wise cracks! How's Cat?" "Funny, she just said the same thing. I think you two were separated at birth." "Impossible, and you know it! PLEASE, just tell-" "I'm FINE Suzee, but we could use a little help. Where's Elmira located???" Harlan tried to focus on steering, but it felt SO weird to hear Cat's voice after so long. It sent a wave of shivers down his spine. Radu answered. "She escaped the cells, and is heading towards the loading docks. Your ship can't sustain much longer. She advises you to enter the locking bay, as she secures a new ship." "Is she SURE about this?! One wrong move, and we're dead!" Came Andre's voice. "You don't have much of a choice! Do you have weapons???" Harlan growled. "Ye- AH!" The ship took another hit, shaking the very bolts that held it together. "Andre'! Do as the man says!" "Yes Princess!" "And STOP calling me that!" "Yes your Highness." "Argh!" The comlink was severed, and the Crysta waited.
*********