I am going to be moving very quickly at this point, for the sake of continuing the plot, and for the sake of my sanity. I really don't like writing about romance between my patron faction leader and an old, perverted Russian scientist. (nothing against Russians, its just the accent. Could you imagine Zakharov during sex?)

AARRRRGGGHHHH! Even worse, could you imagine what his sex sound is?

*shuddershuddershuddershudderpuke*

I really don't want to think about that one too much. Brrrrr. Anyway, try and enjoy this chapter. Sorry Josh, about this pairing, and anyone else it may offend.



The new laws of restriction came into place at midday. Deirdre stared mutely at the vid-screen in her chambers at Chiron City, and shook her head ruefully when she saw the looks of shock, and betrayal on the faces of the protesters.

Zakharov stood next to her, his face equally as grim. He looked at her, and spoke quietly, obviously contemplative:

"My lady Deirdre. What should we do now then?"

Deirdre looked at him, and shuddered. She felt half-dead. What was she even doing here? She breathed out heavily, and then said: "I have no idea, Zakharov. I think it is time Yang and I had a little chat though. I want to know why he felt it necessary to manipulate the Council in his own direction."

Zakharov nodded. "Yes. However, lady, he will not admit to any of this, you know that, do you not? Perhaps it would be best if you simply declared Vendetta upon him. I myself would support you, and I am sure Lal would. He hates Yang with a vengeance."

Deirdre shook her head. "I am not going to war again, Zakharov. If it comes to violence, you may remove Yang. I will give you energy credits and supplies, but never again will my faction become involved in a war."

Zakharov opened his mouth in shock, and he tried to speak. Frowning, he paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Finally he said: "Deirdre. I respect your decision, but if you give me supplies, you would already be involved."

Deirdre nodded simply: "Yes, but my faction will not be fighting, Zak. I remember too well the war with Santiago, and I do not want a repeat of that hell-like time. Planet suffered incredibly because of my pride. If necessary, the Gaian Faction will bow down and become puppets, as you say. I will not fight. Ever."

Zakharov replied: "That is not your decision, Deirdre."

Deirdre flared red: "It is my decision, Zakharov. I made the decision to fight against the Spartans all those years ago, and I nearly ruined my Faction because of it. What use is a pacifistic faction, that is ready to go to war at the drop of a hat?"

Zakharov looked equally angry: "You cannot shrug off the sacrifices of all those that died because of that war, my lady! Diehl, Marco, Lindly, and millions others, all died so that their Faction could remain out of the iron grip of Santiago. If you now decide not to fight, their sacrifices will be in vain."

Deirdre shook her head as if in denial of the facts, and then strode over to the arched window, staring out at the cityscape, as if in a trance. Zakharov came up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her.

"Whatever you decide, Deirdre, it will be for the best."

She smiled. "Its comforting to know that. At least, no matter how much I bungle things, I have you to turn to, don't I? You are my rock."

Zakharov smiled. "Nothing so brainless, I am afraid. How about a weasel, or a hamster? Hmm...maybe even a rabbit?"

To anyone else not from Earth, that conversation would probably not have made much sense, but Deirdre turned, and grinned wickedly. "You do seem to have some of the characteristics of a rabbit, Mr Zakharov. Tell me, do rabbits usually mate so frequently in one night?"

He laughed. "Deirdre. Please. People might here."

She giggled, pulling him closer to her. "Yes, and if they do? They will hear us having a complicated discussion about the breeding patterns of rabbits. Which is partially true, I suppose."

Zakharov barely moved. "Hmm. I appear to have forgotten, why were we like rabbits again?"

Deirdre knew at once where he was heading, and she tapped him lightly on the nose.

"I had thought age would have mellowed you out a little, my dear. You are as eager as the most adolescent of bunnies. No. There is no time, Zakharov. It is time that we dealt with Yang."



The Gaian war with the Hive was brutally swift. Yang was totally unprepared for such an obvious display of aggression from Lady Deirdre, and so he watched, powerless as her legions of green-clad troops broke into base after base.

Zakharov and the University did not participate in the short war, being content instead to build up their own military forces. Loud protests were raised in the Council, but everyone was too afraid of the Gaian/University Alliance to say anything. Lal supported the war, and so it was impossible to pass a motion that forbade it. Quite literally, the entire nation of Planet watched as the Hive was ground into dust beneath the not-so tender feet of the Gaians.

Planet did not seem to object to the actions of Lady Deirdre. After all, by removing Yang from power, it was removing many bases that caused horrendous pollution. The citizens of Gaia, however, were not so easily dissuaded.

Only constant pleading prevented them from rioting, that and the memory of what riots had done to Landing many years ago. In Chiron City, however, riots became commonplace. An entire legion of Gaian warriors was needed to protect Deirdre as she left the Council quarters for her own embassy building. Assassination attempts were usual, and the efforts of Hale and his Shadow Network were concentrated solely on protecting Deirdre from all harm.

Finally, Deirdre realised how much harm she had done to the stability of Planet, and resigned her role as Council Leader. Into the vacuum, Zakharov stepped, and became leader. It was with a heavy heart, he said, that he would accept the responsibility of the leadership. Immediately, he stepped up police powers, and ordered the Lady Deirdre to cease her Vendetta against the Hive.

Shocked, Deirdre did just that. Only then, did Deirdre realise how much of a fool she had been. Only then did she begin to realise that perhaps she had been manipulated. Of course, by then, it was far, far too late.



She sat at her throne in Gaia, revelling in the peace. It was a welcome change from the swelter of Chiron City, and the screaming, roaring rioting crowds. Her forces had now completely withdrawn from the Hive bases, and Zakharov had clamped down on the riots. No more did anyone voice their own opinions, too afraid of their own shadows to do much else. With the absence of Deirdre, Zakharov rescinded the Atrocity Ban, and nerve-stapled any wayward citizens. Yang did the same.

By now, the last of her forces had reached New Island. Most of them had returned to their home bases, but many of them, seven legions remained in Memory of Earth. It was to the Governor of this city that Deirdre spoke.

Maria had been Governor of the city for a good two-hundred years, and had been a constant friend with her leader throughout. Deirdre was thankful that she had a friend with whom to conduct the business of removing her armies from the city. Any other Governor could have made things difficult, but Maria remained loyal.

"So, within two weeks, we should have removed..." Maria broke off, as an aide stepped up besides her, whispering in her ear. The woman paled, and stood. "Forgive me, my lady. There is something approaching us on the radar. It looks like a-"

The screen flared red, brilliant, unadulterated red, and then it began to crackle. Deirdre whirled round to her aides, and shouted:

"What has happened?"

Before she could hear any answer, she felt a shrieking grip as Planet seized control of her mind. She shivered. This time, when Planet spoke, it dripped with powerful fury, and agony. It roared:

EARTHDEIRDRE! PAIN! PAIN! AGONY! GREAT HURT! FIRE! WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. IT IS BAD. PLANETDEATH? PAIN! EARTHDEIRDRE. EARTHDEIRDRE. EARTHDEirdre. EARThdeirdre. EARthdeirdre. Earthdeirdre. earthdeirdre. help. pain

Silence fell. Deirdre was huddled, her hands clutching her head, shivering. What had happened? Arms lifted her up, and then she heard what people were saying. Many of them were pointing out of the crystal windows, in the direction of Memory. Into the sky, a pillar of red fire and smoke rose. A mushroom cloud? No! Impossible. Unless, no. Not...

"Access secondary communication grid. I need information."

It took twenty minutes to get the new grid up and running. By then, planes had been launched towards Memory, and the pictures were returning. Deirdre paled when she saw them. The city had gone. Instead, there was a massive crater, with melted metal and disintegrated stone. The obvious effects of a Planet Buster.

"Lady, communications coming in from the University. Shall I put Zakharov on screen?"

Deirdre nodded. What was Zakharo- Her breath rattled in her throat, and she whispered, in terror: "Oh my god."

When Zakharov appeared on the screen, he was smiling: "Greetings, my lady. I have recently had the pleasure of dispatching my own personal sign of my affection to you. It was due to arrive at Memory of Earth, oh, about twenty minutes ago? Think of it as an early birthday present."

Deirdre had gone deadly white. Zakharov spared her the need to answer, instead, giving her a scornful glare, continuing. "They say that the villain is always undone in the exposition. Nonsense, in my opinion. It serves to dismay the chosen antagonist, it makes them see how foolish they have been, in trusting."

Deirdre finally found words, breathing vehemently: "You bastard."

Zakharov smiled. "Come on, surely you can do better than that, you half- burned whore? By every know equation in the world, you were so easy to manipulate, Deirdre. The typical, predictable expression of one of my behavioural pattern observations. Clever woman," he read slowly off a sheet of paper. "Has a habit of impatience, and cannot make, or counter plans made years in advance."

Deirdre breathed out, and opened her mouth to speak, but Zakharov continued, laughing now. "Amazing, such a complicated array of emotions on that face! Do I see a tint of despair, sadness, oh! Betrayal! How many times have I seen you feeling sorry for yourself? Would you like to know how long I have been plotting your downfall, you bitch? Would you? Ha! Since Planetfall! These plans, I have entwined them around you, delicate spider webs of deceit and intricate cunning!"

Deirdre blinked away tears. "I- I- I thought you loved me, Zakharov."

He laughed, a screeching, hoarse sound. "Love? What is love, Deirdre? Nothing! It is an empty fallacy! Ha, and an amazing tool for manipulation. Maybe I could do all this again, sometime. Well, the occasion may not come again, so I will take full advantage of this time. Maybe to clear up any confusion you have about our relationship."

Shaking her head, Deirdre was numb to the tears falling down her face. The words of this scientist seemed to echo through her mind, and she tried to drive them away, to will them out of existence.

"You are a lonely woman, Deirdre. Alone in your cause to protect this heap of rock you call Planet, alone in your cause to ensure peace. Therefore, when I offered a chance at friendship, and love, which any immature girl dreams of, you practically leapt into my arms. And my bed. And the second time? So easy! Your ugly face, wrecked by fire, made you even lonelier. You were desperate for an admirer, and so you fell, once again, into my traps. And the Council! The easiest deception in history! You lapped up my threats of war with sincerity! Oh, with you, my lady, the road to power is so sweet, and easy. Imagine, I will be the only person every to have had sex with the beautiful girl, Deirdre Skye, and the withered old hag. Interesting oxymoron, are you really the same person?"

Deirdre sobbed. She felt lost. Had she been so stupid? All the conversations with Zakharov came back to her, and she cursed herself. In every one of them, she had fallen completely under his sway.

"You are realising your mistakes, now, yes? Good. I will tell you my last, most terrible secret. Santiago, my dear lady, was totally innocent!"

Deirdre choked on her weeping now, and stared at him, eyes wide in horror. "Wh- wh- what do you mean? What! Tell me!"

He laughed, shrill now. "Oh, she started the war, but before then she was as dedicated to peace as you. Her parents had died for it, you see. That tends to make one dedicated to a cause, doesn't it? Enter, moi. I had her captured and wait for it, this is the best bit. I had her tortured, in her own punishment sphere. Brilliant? Economy of resources, I always say. Well, after her little holiday, she was totally mad, and guess whom she trusted with all her little heart? Dear old Zakharov, whom she looked upon as a dear uncle. Are all women so easy to deceive!"

Deirdre couldn't believe this. Where was the Zakharov she had fallen in love with. He smiled at her, and said. "He doesn't exist by the way. That other Zakharov. Nope, total fantasy." Looking at her expression, he rolled his eyes. "It isn't exactly hard to work out what you are thinking of, Deirdre. A gnat could read your face."

Deirdre bit her lip, feeling hopeless. The throne room had fallen silent. "Yang? What of him? Was he innocent?"

Zakharov shook his head. "No, Yang has been my most staunch ally during our sojourn on this rock. It was both of us who kept the Council fractured in disunity. We watched all the others' attempts to bring peace, and it was amazing to shatter them ourselves."

He yawned melodramatically. "Well then, Lady Deirdre. I have one more present for you. It is called Vendetta. Right then, goodbye. I've got people to torture and cities to fry. You know the drill. Until next time, slut!"

The channel went dead, and the silence was broken only by the sound of Deirdre broken, despairing weeping.