Author's Note:
As usual, these characters (with the exception of the super-hero team Patheon) don't belong to me. They belong to Mattel. This will come as no surprise to anyone, but "Deus Ex Machina" is in the same continuity as "Preludes and Beginnings," "He-Man Year One," "The Elfsong of Eternia," "The Crossroads of Destiny," "Prophecy & Change," "Just Another Day," "Liberty and Valor," "Manifest Destiny," "Roots," "The Final Adventure," "A Winter's Heart," and "The Shroud of the Horde." Whew!
This story takes place about six months following the events of the New Adventures episode, "Glasnost Schmaznost." In that episode, He-Man and the people of Primus were called to the Galactic Council to meet with the Mutants in hopes of peace. Ultimately, peace was once more elusive. "Glasnost Schmaznost" takes place shortly after a three-week long coup dentate of Primus by the Mutants. They were eventually removed from power, allowing the Primians to once more control their own planet.
Chapter One – "We Come In Peace"
It was one of those mornings that Prince Adam wished he was still on Eternia. These mornings had been less and less frequent since his arrival on Primus nearly three years ago, but they still crept up on him. His back ached from the over-stiff mattress. It wasn't often he stayed in the apartment, but this was just one of those times.
Adam sat up and stretched, the sunlight of three stars shining through the window. The apartment was owned by Adam, only to give the illusion that he was a trader in Leviton and the nephew of Master Sebrian. It was a role he rarely had to play. Every time Adam became He-Man in the Oasis, it was quite easy to just say that Adam was back in Leviton. And vice versa.
He poured himself some coffee. It was a different form of coffee than what he had had back home, and that was just as different as the kind his mother used to drink on her home planet. It was watery, but naturally sweeter. Stronger, too.
Adam sat at his meager table and looked to the few personal effects in his apartment. He had to keep them low key in case Mara or Drissi decided to stop by. There were a few pictures, though, that meant a whole great deal to him and he had trouble keeping hidden.
Sitting on the top shelf of a mostly bare bookshelf was a framed picture of his parents, King Randor and Queen Marlena. With them was Adam's twin sister, Princess Adora and Adam himself. It was taken shortly after Adora's return to Eternia after years of serving the evil Horde. The joy those first few days were hardly captured in that picture, but it was evident.
Another picture sat next to it. Adam smiled at it, but not as affectionately. In this particular picture was Adam and Adora once more. But it also had Cringer, Adam's favorite pet, and Adora's horse, Spirit. Orko, the court jester and Adam's best friend, floated in the corner. There was one other person in the picture that seemed to create a certain darkness towards the rest of the friendly faces. Kathryn, the woman that would be the queen. The woman that would have been Adam's wife and, had it not been for the Snake-Men, the mother of Adam's child.
The break-up had been hard and it stung Adam to his very core. But it had been three years since that event. He had moved across the universe and that was his way of moving on.
Adam got up and started his daily routine. His first stop was the bedroom. Right underneath his bed was a long, locked case. He punched in the combination in the locks and retrieved what was inside.
The Sword of Power glistened in the early sunlight.
It had become the first thing Adam checked in the morning for years. Now, though, it seemed almost useless. The war of the Tri-Solar System between Flogg and the Mutants of Denebria and the sovereign world of Primus had become rather cold for the past six and half months. There were fleet movements, but no major conflicts in quite some time.
This made Adam nervous. Skeletor was working for Flogg - it had been among the main reasons Adam came here. And Adam knew that silence from Skeletor meant that something was up. The longer the silence, the bigger the threat.
Adam showered, shaved, dressed, and ate. After stowing the Sword of Power in his pack (it was far more portable than one would think), he set off.
Leviton was busy as he exited his building. People were packed in the streets, on their way to work or home or wherever. Adam blended in with them, becoming nothing more than a face in the crowd. He maintained a low profile for other reasons besides being able to slip out and transform into He-Man. He also wanted to make sure that Skeletor had no idea he was here.
Adam moved across the vast floating city, heading towards the transport center. From there, he would hitch a ride out to the Oasis.
As he neared the transport shuttles, however, the alarms all across Leviton screamed. Adam knew that sound all too well by now. He glanced down at his communicator-watch and saw it flashing.
"Trouble," he whispered and made for the nearest storage closet. As he bypassed the lock, he brought the communicator-watch to his ear. "What's going on?"
Master Sebrian's otherwise gentle voice came through the line. "A massive vessel is currently in orbit above us, Adam, with its weapons locked. He-Man is needed."
Adam shut the door behind him and then removed his Sword of Power from his pack. "I'll be there soon."
"BY THE POWER OF ETERNIA . . ." he shouted, Sword of Power raised as energy overcame him. "I HAVE THE POWER!"
"What's the situation?" asked Hydron, rushing into the War Room. Flipshot was by his side, adjusting his wings.
"A massive ship," reported Alcon. "One that we've never before."
"From what we can determine, it seems to be locking weapons on all major civilized areas," Gepple added. "Energy build-up is being detecting in what we can only guess is the weapons array."
"What to do you mean 'guess?'" asked Flipshot.
"Calm down, all," Master Sebrian stated, entering the War Room. He looked up at the rounded wall, studying the ship on the monitors. "Captain Hydron, assemble the Galactic Guardians. He-Man will be here shortly. Has anyone spoken to the Inner Council? Or to Mara?"
"I am here, representing the council, Sebrian," came the voice of Sebrian chief political rival and the loudest voice against He-Man's presence on Primus – Councilor Werban.
Sebrian grunted a little and did his best to leave his discontent hidden. "Werban, can you keep the Inner Council appraised of the situation?"
"You doubt that I would, Sebrian?" Werban replied.
Sebrian didn't dignify that with a response. Instead, he moved over to the scientists. "Meloc," he addressed the fatter, bald scientist. "I need to know what the shield strength is at the moment."
"I'll get right on it."
"Krex, find out how we can boost the shield."
"Y-Y-Yes."
"Alcon, try and figure just how much damage that vessel could do to us if it fired."
"Gotcha."
He-Man arrived at this moment. "I got here as fast as I could."
"Thank the Council," breathed Sebrian. "We are working on a solution. The Inner Council has already attempted to communicate with the vessel in all known languages and in all ways. We have received no reply."
"Is this it?" asked He-Man, looking at the monitor. To him, it looked like a massive bullet. Somewhat stumpy, but smooth and rounded.
The four scientists came over then, each one holding various read-outs.
"From what we can determine, with shield strength as it, its weapons will burn right through them," Alcon reported.
"W-W-We ca-ca-can boost sh-sh-shield strength, but it may not b-b-be e-e-enough," added Krex.
"He-Man?" Sebrian questioned.
"We're gone," He-Man replied, rushing out of the War Room.
The Starship Eternia achieved orbit within thirty minutes. He-Man stood on the bridge along with Hydron, Flipshot, Artilla, and Tuskador. Kayo and Nocturna would be close behind in Astrosubs. The Starship Colossus would then arrive after the Astrosubs, carrying Spinwit, Sagitar, and Vizar.
"Continue to broadcast on all frequencies," He-Man ordered. "Bring us in slowly. We don't want it to seem as though we're being aggressive. I'd still like to see a peaceful resolution to this."
"Understood," Flipshot responded, adjusting the controls accordingly.
"He-Man!" yelled Hydron suddenly. "I'm detecting energy build-up! The weapons are preparing to fire!"
"Bring us in! Nice and tight!" He-Man then commanded. "All weapons, fire!"
The Starship Eternia's weapons blazed silently into space, streaking towards the massive silver craft that hung suspended above Primus. A combination of lasers and energy torpedoes struck the vessel with ferocity, resulting in small explosions that leapt from the hull.
"Any change?" asked He-Man.
"Not yet. We . . . we're being scanned."
A beam of green light flowed across the Starship Eternia. This was followed by another beam, this one blue.
"Weapons are powering down, He-Man!" shouted Flipshot.
He-Man leaned forward. "Keep a stance on it. Don't move."
Just then, something fired out from the bottom of the vessel. It screeched through the shield and then impacted somewhere in the Oasis.
"What was that?" Flipshot shouted.
Hydron clicked on the comm-line to the Colossus, which was just now entering orbit. "Spinwit, did you guys get a reading on that?"
"Yes, we did. Landed in the Oasis. Moved pretty fast. Appears as though the shield barely fazed it."
"Take our place up here," Hydron then ordered. "We're going in to investigate it. If the ship makes to attack again, don't hesitate to fire."
The Starship Eternia careened away from the alien vessel, heading back towards the Oasis Hole.
The Starship Eternia landed at the very edge of a shallow crater. Small fires lit in the charred area, a ship apparently sticking out of the center. He-Man, Flipshot, Hydron, and Artilla exited the Starship Eternia, making for the landing point.
"Be prepared for anything," He-Man announced, Sword of Power at the ready.
The ship, at that moment, seemed to open up. He-Man and his fellow Galactic Guardians steadied themselves, prepared to face down whatever or whoever emerged from the ship.
Figures began to emerge, wearing a variety of costumes.
"We come in peace!" shouted the first one to exit the ship. He wore a pure white armor with a red cape flowing the shoulders. His hair was black. "My name is the Patriot, leader of the Patheon peacekeeping strike force! We come in peace!"
As he spoke, even more of Patriot's costumed companions ventured from the ship.
"We come in the name of the Galactic Council . . . to end this war!"