Chapter Three: "Unintended Reunions"

From the twilight sky, it appeared. It soared through the purple, orange, and red colored clouds and made for Eternos. Adam watched with anxiety as the Starship Colossus set out for the landing pad. A wisp of snow drifted away as the ship came to a landing.

What would bring them here? Why now? This was the worst of times. With such a vital treaty almost literally on the table, and with so many different kingdoms in chaos - well, this was just fuel to the fire. Immediately, Adam pushed thoughts of a friendly stopover out of his mind. With a Primian convoy sitting in orbit, this was far from "Hey-How-ya-been?" trip.

The door opened on the Starship Eternia and Adam straightened himself. The people of Primus were aware of his duel identity, seeing it the few times He-Man was able to become Adam.

"Adam!" shouted Hydron, stepping out of the starship. "Good to see you again!"

Adam smiled genuinely. As much as a pain as this was, it was good to his old friends once more. Hydron grasped Adam's hand and shook.

"You too, Hydron. And it's King Adam now."

Hydron nodded and smiled. "Promoted, huh? Me too."

"It's only a temporary promotion. High Commander?"

"That's right."

A second figure emerged from the Starship Eternia. Flipshot waved at Adam. "King?" he asked, shaking Adam's hand. "Congrats. I'm a Commander now."

"That's good to hear," Adam replied. "I have to admit, though, as good as it is to see you again, you sure picked one of helluva time to stop by. We're in the middle conducting a very intensive peace treaty between some of the kingdoms on Eternia."

Hydron nodded. "Our apologies, but I'm afraid this couldn't be held off any longer."

Flipshot removed his silver helmet. "A lot has happened in the past few months. Things you wouldn't believe."

"Considering everything I've just been through, I could believe anything. Come on in."

The trio walked into a nearby entrance, where Hydron and Flipshot came face-to-face with three of Adam's allies.

"This Duncan, the Man-At-Arms. His daughter Teela, the Captain of the Royal Guard. And my sister Adora, temporary queen of Eternia. Duncan, Teela, Adora - this is Hydron and Flipshot of Primus."

Flipshot gazed at Adora as her beautiful blond hair bounced around her soft face. "Milady," Flipshot greeted. He reached for her hand, held it up and kissed it. "The pictures He-Man showed us did nothing to tell of your beauty and grace."

Adora blushed a bit, smiled, and rolled her eyes.

"Flipshot . . . knock it off," Hydron scolded. "You'll have to forgive him. Ever since the war ended, he's been after every girl on Primus. You'd think he would know better."

"Yeah, no kidding," Adam said, smiling. "Come, Flipshot, didn't you get enough that when you were a woman?"

The others laughed a bit, but obviously didn't get the full joke. Hydron pulled off his clear helmet at this point. "We do have a lot to talk about, Adam. Is there someplace we can sit?"

Adam nodded. "Yeah. The parlor room. Would you like something to eat?"

"Yes. We've been eating rations during the entire trip."

A few minutes later, the six of them settled down in the parlor room. It was a smaller room made up of mostly couches and chairs, all centered around a large fireplace. Everyone had settled into a seat, and snacked on tea, coffee and muffins from Chef Allan's nicely restored kitchen.

"So . . . what can you tell us? What's changed so much?" asked Adam at last.

Hydron took a sip of his coffee. "A few days after you left, a new enemy emerged. Remember how you couldn't make a straight shot home because of the blocked off area of space? Well, the Horde warlord there – his name being Calyx – was pushed out of the area. The Horde fleet under his command came to the Tri-Solar System."

Adam set down his tea. "What . . .?"

"Yeah, not pleasant," Flipshot said.

Adora glanced at the others. They all knew the Horde's treachery well. This was a shock, but not very surprising.

"How many casualties?" asked Adam.

Flipshot smiled. "None."

"What!? You're joking," Adora gasped.

"Nope," Flipshot answered. "With Meriac in control of Denebria, they were able to gather their forces and we entered into an alliance. The Gleanons and the Mites came aboard too."

"For the first time in recorded history, the planets of the Tri-Solar System joined together against a common foe," Hydron told with pride. "Mutants, Primians, Gleanons, and Mites - a momentous day. We had the Horde beat back in under three weeks!"

Adora nearly choked on her muffin. "Three weeks!?"

"Impossible!"

"We were pretty proud of ourselves, but that's when we learned that there was much more going on here," Hydron continued. "The Horde had been experiencing unrest, as you know. The fleet that was sent against us was one gone rogue and was without Horde resources and reinforcements."

"A number of Admirals have gone rogue, breaking off from the Horde."

Flipshot nodded. "With these breaks, a lot of Horde-controlled planets have been freed. One of them, you are quite familiar with."

The four Eternians looked at each other. "What planet?"

"Trolla."

"It came under Horde control over two years ago."

Adam let out a sigh of frustration and looked to Duncan. "Orko's not going to be happy about this," Duncan said plainly.

"Getting back to the matter, the Horde World has been overthrown, Horde agents and Admirals have gone rogue, Horde-dominated worlds are suddenly free, and now . . . Horde Prime is heading here."

"Why?" asked Adam.
"That's where our information gets sketchy. There was something mentioned about the 'ultimate power,' but we're not sure on that one," Flipshot admitted.

"On Eternia, the 'ultimate power' could be a lot of things. Grayskull, the Great Towers, even the heart of Eternia itself . . ."

"We don't know a lot about sorcery," Hydron said up-front. "But we do know technology. Horde Prime will be here in four days, and our reinforcements will be here in three."

"His armada is big, but we have confidence we can defeat them. We need the help of Eternia, though," Flipshot said.

"You have Eternos, of course," Adam said. "I'll meet with the others tomorrow and see what they have to say. In the meantime, land your convoys and we'll do what we can to help you out on the ground."

"There will be victory here," Hydron stated with strong confidence.

Adam nodded. "I hope so."

A little later, after Hydron and Flipshot were given guest rooms for the night, Adam trailed Teela up to her room. Mekaneck's son, Phillip, was given his payment for babysitting Addison and sent on his way. Phillip had formed a strong bond with Addison, mainly because during the Second Horde War, Phillip baby-sat Addison while Teela was gone.

After checking up on Addison, Teela had a seat on her couch. Her room was a small suite, complete with mini-kitchen, two large bedrooms and a living/dining area. Not many others living at the Palace had this sort of luxury - but it was Adam who made sure that she and her son were both comfortable.

"So what do you think?" he asked, sitting next to her.

"Of what? The situation or your friends?"

"Both."

"Well, the situation is dangerous, but I'm pretty confident in our resources. As for your buddies . . . well, they are quite odd."

"Alien worlds, dear," Adam replied. Teela leaned against him and Adam wrapped his arms around her body.

"True, but if you're saying that all aliens are odd, then that includes Orko. And you, I might add, as well as Adora."

Adam just smiled and kissed her forehead. "I come in peace," he joked.

Teela perked an eyebrow, leaned in and kissed him. It was warm and passionate as the kiss grew. She broke only to whisper into his ear: "I don't."

Adam smiled and they kissed again . . .

Just after dawn, Adora tugged on her coat and made up the trail. She was reminded of all the hidden sensors that laid all across the mountain, now scanning her as she walked towards the prison. At the top of the mountain was a large metal dome with a tall guard tower at the side. Four guards stood outside the main entrance. When she reached the doorway, the guards stopped her.

"Hand out, milady," said the one guard.

Adora held out her hand and the guard placed it inside a cube. The cube lit up green and the guard nodded.

"Thank you, milady," the guard replied, then pressed cube up to the door. A panel lit up green and the door opened. Adora walked in and nodded at the ten guards that stood around the room. In the center was a large elevator, there stood two more guards.

This entire facility held twenty-two soldiers, all to guard King Hiss and Hordak who sat far beneath the mountain in their specially designed cells. As the elevator took her down, Adora could hear the seals and clamps unlocking to let them down there.

After five minutes, the elevator came to a halting stop. The door opened and there sat the door cells that belonged to King Hiss and Hordak, both opposite of each other.

"Well well well . . . if it isssssn't the princessss," King Hiss said, grinning. Adora ignored him and peered at Hordak, who seemed to be ignoring them both. "Horde Prime's coming," King Hiss teased. "Hordak knows it."

"Silence your tongue, snake," snarled Adora. She pressed the 'DOOR CLOSE' button next to his cell and the large metal door slammed over the glass. "Hordak. Talk to me."

"Why?" hissed Hordak. "Why should I even bother to acknowledge you?"

"Hordak, I need information. Badly."

Hordak snorted. "You need . . . heh heh heh . . . you NEED! What about me Adora?! What about me!?! YOU BETRAYED ME!"

Adora stepped up to him. "You've murdered thousands. You invaded a planet, then imprisoned them to steal their life forces, and . . ." She stopped herself. "Hordak, I don't want to do this. I don't. I just need information. I don't want to do this."

"Then don't! DON'T!" he shouted. "I'm finished with you anyways!"

"Well I'm not finished with you," she said strongly. "Hordak, the peoples of Eternia. Where are they? Horde Prime is coming and we need all the man-power we can muster."

"Gone. Gone gone gone gone gone gone. They were like that when I got here," Hordak replied.

Adora eyed him carefully. His mind had been deluded when he received the Sword of Deception, and it seemed that in the two months it had been parted from him, there had been little recovery. It was in that moment Adora felt a swell of pity for Hordak. Despite the destruction and death he had caused, he was once brilliant and strong. Now . . . his mind was unhinged and his grip on reality seemed to loosen.

"Gone? Completely?"

"YES! YES YES YES YES YES YES! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

His laughing echoed throughout the cell and Adora backed away. Hordak didn't know, but she realized then that even if he did know - his lack of sanity was probably going to stop him from answering properly.

Adora made for the elevator and took one last look at her former master as he laughed loudly . . .

As the rest of the ships landed around Eternos, Adam surveyed the newcomers that emptied from them. He didn't recognize many of them, but a few of the soldiers he had served with during the war on Primus. He glanced down at a computer pad that Hydron had given him, and sighed heavily. Two more transports were due to set down within the next three hours.

"How's it going?" asked Teela, walking over, holding Addison in her arms.

"Pretty good so far."

"I never imagined such a difference in cultures," Teela admitted.

"I never imagined that Primians and Mutants would be working side-by-side," Adam replied. "It's pretty incredible, considerable all of the hatred that - "

"ADAM! IS THAT YOU!?" came a shouted.

Adam turned around and his jaw went slack. His heart sunk into his stomach and his eyes grew wide. A young woman stood there, chestnut brown hair flowing across her shoulders.

"Mara," Adam whispered. Immediately, Teela turned to face him, hearing that name.

"Adam!" Mara said, walking over. The soldier of Primus leaned forward then and gave Adam a hug . . . followed by a kiss on the lips.

Teela's face turned bright red and her eyes were like burning coals.

"Mara!" yelped Adam. "I . . . um . . . this is Teela."

Mara turned to face Teela with a big, wide grin. "Hello Teela," she greeted. "Funny, that robot was all wrong on the hair."

Teela turned back to Adam, hoisting Addison a bit. "Robot?"

Adam twitched a bit. "Er . . . Skeletor created a robotic version of you and sent her to me. It told me that Eternia was at peace and I couldn't come home. And then you - it - left."

Teela eyed him. "Okay . . . so how did you find out it was robot?"

This was where Mara stepped in. "Okay, well, it came back, right? And when it did, the robotic Teela started to strip."

At this point, Teela looked like she was about to strangle Mara. "Go on," she snarled.

"Well, okay, once the robot started it's little striptease, it kissed He-Man and then - get this! - exploded! It was just SO funny."

Adam suppressed a chuckle, amused by the memory. Teela, though caught it, and gave him a death glare that he would not soon forget.

"Well, as much as I'm enjoying this little reunion, I'm going to my room. It's time for Addison's nap, as you can tell."

Adam nodded, a little stunned by the harsh expression of her face. Mara threw her arm around Adam's shoulders.

"That's your son? Wow!"

Teela ignored Mara and just made for the stairs to the Palace. Mara smiled and turned to Adam. Adam looked longingly after Teela.

"You've changed, Mara," Adam said straightly, but still friendly.

"Peace changes a person. Purpose changes a person."

Adam took one last look at Teela as she faded from sight. "So does war," he said with a hushed tone.

Mara smiled at him again. "That Teela seems to have thing for you, Adam," she said. "I saw that look in her eyes when I kissed you. Pure, unbridled jealousy. She digging you."

Adam nodded. "I would hope so. We are a couple."

Mara gasped. "What? Really?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry . . . it's just that . . ."

Mara shook her head. "No, no. It's okay, it's all right. I'm sorry, really. I shouldn't have kissed you." She paused. "That was her, right? The one I said you were holding out for?"

"Yes, yes it is. If you'll excuse me please, Mara, I've got to meet with Hydron. The rest of the Galactic Guardians will be arriving shortly."

"Sure thing, Adam," came Mara's reply. "Mind if we meet up a little later? For coffee?"

To that, Adam smiled. "Sure thing, Mara. Sure thing."

Another transport ship landed softly among the dozen others. The doors came open and out came Kayo, Vizar, Nocturna, Tuskador, Artilla, Spinwit, and Sagitar. Right behind them were the scientists – Alcon, Gepple, Meloc, and Krex.

Adam, Hydron, and Flipshot went off to meet with them. Adam was immediately hugging and shaking hands with his old comrades. From not far away, Snout Spout, Rotar, Ram-Man, Roboto, Man-E-Faces, Gwildor, Moss Man, Fisto, Sy-Klone, Glimmer, Mermista, and Flutterina watched.

"Just who do they think they are, coming around here, being buddies with Adam?" asked Ram-Man.

"It's not like they've been through half the stuff we've been through with him," Sy-Klone muttered.

"Boys, boys," muttered Glimmer.

Adam and the group walked over, chatting and catching up.

"Gwildor, this is Alcon, Gepple, Meloc, and Krex. The chief scientists of Primus. Would you mind taking them to Man-At-Arms lab? I was hoping they could help us find my parents."

"Er, of course, of course, this way," Gwildor said, waving his hand to them.

"What a lovely planet!" Alcon pointed out.

"Very clean!" Gepple added.

"Not as nice as Primus," Meloc bemoaned.

"Don't tell me you're homesick already?" grumbled Krex.

Adam smiled and introduced the Heroic Warriors and Great Rebellion to the Galactic Guardians.

"What's your power?" asked Sy-Klone of Spinwit.

"Wind," replied Spinwit arrogantly.

"Oh, that's original," Sy-Klone scoffed.

"Copycat," Rotar added.

Snout Spout looked at Tuskador, studying and sizing him up briefly. "Is that armor? Can you take the face off?"

"Yeah," Tuskador answered.

Snout Spout squinted. "I hate you."

Adam looked Hydron with wide eyes. "Great start already."