Chapter Four: "Face To Face"
He-Man awoke with a smile. Above him, the suns hung in the early morning sky. White puffy clouds were suspended along with them. Birds and bugs had been up for hours, making full use of the beautiful morning since the suns rose.
Despite his concerns regarding the Patheon, he felt good. Good? No . . . he felt great! Mara had a number of good points regarding the possibility of having a relationship. The thought that he and Mara could share one now was fantastic. And those first kisses . . .
He-Man prepared for the day, a smile on his face. Thoughts of what he and Mara could do today and tonight filled his mind. After showering and shaving, his communicator went off. He-Man snatched it up and opened the comm-line.
"He-Man!" Master Sebrian practically shouted. "We need you at Onnar at once."
"What's wrong?"
Two hours later, He-Man stood in the doorway of Werban's home. It had been sealed off by security forces, but Master Sebrian had given He-Man special authorization to enter. As he walked along the first floor, he could see blood spatters along with busted furniture.
"I can't believe this was done to him," he muttered.
Master Sebrian nodded beside He-Man. "He has a number of political rivals – including myself, unfortunately. There are a lot of suspects."
He-Man grimed. "Including the Patheon."
"Yes."
"This could be trouble, Sebrian."
They exited Werban's house and made for their transport at the edge of the lawn. "We shouldn't come up with an accusations . . . yet. However, there are other things to consider."
"What do you mean?" He-Man asked.
"Flipshot."
"What's wrong with him?"
Sebrian smiled, but really didn't mean to. "His attempts at wooing Genetix of the Patheon resulted in some . . . rather unfortunate side-effects."
"How so?"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M STUCK LIKE THIS!"
Gepple felt like hiding, but red-faced with embarrassment and fear, he addressed poor Flipshot. "Yes, er, for now."
"Define that, please," Flipshot spat, still not used to hew new voice.
"Apparently, you actually had your fundamental DNA altered. I know of no way to reverse it yet. You're rather stuck like that until we can come up with some way to change you back. Either that, or Genetix changes you back."
Flipshot slumped forward in her chair, hair spilling in front of her face. Frustrated she tossed it back. "I'll try that route. Ugh. This body feels so strange!"
The door to the lab slid open and Hydron and He-Man entered. Flipshot hid her face in her hands out of embarrassment.
"Oh come on, Flipshot! It's that big of a deal!" Hydron shouted.
He-Man gulped. "Uh, yeah, he's right. It's not like you're not, um, pretty or anything . . ." he said uncomfortably.
Flipshot looked up then, eyes wide. "What?"
He-Man looked to Hydron. "Whoops."
"That's the last thing I need to hear right now. Listen to my voice! I'm freaking chick!" She stood up to full height. "And you guys are taller than me. Where is that bitch? I need to talk her into changing me back."
"Sebrian's taking care of it right now," He-Man said. "And calling her a 'bitch' probably isn't the best thing to do right now."
"Stop looking at my chest!" Flipshot roared.
"I wasn't."
Flipshot's eyes widened with anger. "Yes you were. Both of you!"
"Well, you could really use a bra . . ." Hydron advised.
He-Man sighed and deliberately looked up at the top of Flipshot's hair, which was longer now, flowing to her new, slimmer shoulders. "I'll give Drissi a call. She can help you out."
"Ugh . . . no."
"Think of it this way, Flipshot, it won't be for long. Plus, the more time you spend as a woman, the more insight you'll get."
Flipshot made a universally rude gesture at the two of them as He-Man and Hydron left. Gepple practically fainted.
Patriot stood in Master Sebrian's office, a portrait of solidarity. Sebrian looked at the Patheon leader with inquiring eyes.
"A lovely morning, isn't it?" asked Sebrian.
"Ah, yes, it is."
Sebrian smiled a little. "I was wondering if you could help us. It seems one of your team members – Genetix – transformed one of my Galactic Guardians into a woman. While this is humorous and I can understand the reasoning behind it, I believe it is unnecessary punishment."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Master Sebrian. Unfortunately, Genetix would rather not transform him back."
"And why is that?"
"Unlike you, we believe that is a necessary punishment. His great disrespect towards Genetix and women in general calls for a change in perspective. I think that time spent as a woman would teach him respect that he needs."
"And just how long is that time?" Sebrian asked, perking an eyebrow and then sipping some tea.
"As long as Genetix wants it to be."
"Could I perhaps speak to Genetix, then? Or perhaps arrange for Flipshot and Genetix to meet and work out their differences?"
"I would rather they not, Master Sebrian. Flipshot could be in an emotional state extreme enough to injure her."
Sebrian nodded, keeping calm and cool. "Ah. Well, then, just one more item of business. Last night, Counselor Werban was severally beaten. He is recovering nicely, but is unable to speak. Would you happen to know anything about this?"
"Are you accusing me of being the attacker?"
Sebrian feigned surprise. "Of course not. But if it was perhaps Mutants, it could be the possibility that they slipped past you and the Carrier . . ."
"I will look into the matter."
Sebrian stared hard at Patriot's eyes. For a moment, Patriot stopped completely. Sebrian forced his mind against Patriot. Patriot seemed to go a little limp, but Sebrian withdrew himself, uncertain of what he sensed from the Patheon leader.
"I'm sure you will," he said then. "Have a good afternoon, then, Patriot."
That evening, the Galactic Guardians, the scientists, UR and Gleep, plus Drissi and Caz sat in Sebrian's rather large living room. Orange light poured through the windows as the suns headed towards the horizon. Mara sat next to He-Man on a loveseat. Flipshot – now sporting a bra beneath a female version of his costume – sat alone. The others were spread out across the room.
"Thank you very much for making dinner, Drissi and Mara."
"Not a problem, Master Sebrian," Drissi responded.
Mara nodded and leaned against He-Man a bit. "Same here. It was a pleasure."
"On with business, then, my friends." Sebrian paused and looked downward. After a moment of collecting his thoughts, his gaze flowed from person to person. "The Patheon are now working against us. That much is obvious now. I thought that perhaps they were genuine, but after all this . . . I am more than certain that we face enemies now."
"What do we do from here?" He-Man asked.
"We need to get aboard the Carrier," suggested Nocturne.
"Yeah," Kayo added. "Find out where they came from."
"How do we do that?" questioned Mara.
Flipshot shrugged. "Take the Starship Eternia up under cloak, launch a cloaked shuttle. Have it attach and get a few people in there."
"This needs to be an investigation trip," Hydron added. "Vizar and Artilla, if you two are up to it . . ."
"Of course."
"Affirmative."
"Then what?"
He-Man leaned forward. "We go from there. Keep your communicators on you at all times. Be ready to move. There is possibility that we may need to vacate this world. That goes for you too, Drissi and Caz. A lot of people know that you're our allies. If we have to leave, we're taking you two with us. Understood?"
"Understood."
"Yeah!"
The next morning, He-Man and Mara stepped aboard the Starship Eternia. "I was surprised you agreed to come on this mission, Mara."
She smiled. "Well, you guys said you wanted to keep the heavy hitters on the ground. Plus, since a lot of the Patheon members saw us dancing, we could just use the excuse that we're off on a lover's fling."
"Oh, I like that idea."
Mara patted his hand. "Cute boy."
They kissed briefly and sat down. He-Man went to work, running through the pre-launch checklist. Artilla and Vizar joined them shortly afterwards.
"The cloaking field is ready," He-Man said to them. "The shuttles are ready for you two."
"Thanks," Vizar replied, sitting down with He-Man, Mara, and Artilla.
"Activating cloak."
The Starship Eternia vanished from the hanger. The hanger doors then clanked open. Hydron then waited until the loud rush of noise left the hanger. After a few beeps on his communicator, he closed the hanger bay doors.
"What was that all about?" asked Titan, approaching from the door. "Why did you just open and close the hanger door?"
"Oh, someone was telling me it wasn't working. I tried it to make sure. Turns out they were wrong."
Titan sized him up, then stalked off.
"Whew!"
The cloaked Starship Eternia shot through the Oasis hole and entered into orbit. He-Man looked to his companions as they approached the Carrier. Artilla and Vizar stood up as He-Man parked the Starship Eternia within close distance of the Carrier.
"Shuttle is preparing to launch," Artilla reported. "Cloak field is stable. Entering into radio silence."
He-Man nodded and watched as the shuttle dissolved.
With Artilla at the helm, the shuttle invisible fired out of the launch bay doors of the cloaked Starship Eternia.
"Steady, Artilla," Vizar stated.
"I have it under control. No need to worry."
"Riiight."
The shuttle latched onto the hull of the Carrier five minutes later. Artilla's robotic fingers went to work, sealing the shuttle door with the hull. There was suddenly a loud thud as the hull was chewed through, allowing them access into the Carrier. The shuttle's cloaking field would allow the internal sensors to not detect the hull breach.
Artilla and Vizar activated their stealth and entered into the Carrier. The lights were dim, the long dark corridor barely lit. Artilla and Vizar started walking forward, Artilla's sensors on overdrive. They spoke through a small two-way unit, which interpreted their mouth movements so they didn't have to speak.
"I am detecting nothing behind these walls," Artilla reported.
"What do you mean?"
"It appears as though this entire level is empty."
"Let's keep going."
The pair walked along the long corridor until they came to a slant of metal that took them up the next level. No elevators . . . that was interesting.
They arrived on the next level and once more found nothing. Not a single object. Completely barren. Once more, they climbed another slate. This time, at the end of the level, there was a massive door that blocked their route. Artilla glanced at his invisible companion, then went to work. He placed his hand on a small panel, accessed the system and unlocked the door.
The massive door slid open, allowing them to enter. They stopped in their tracks.
"Whoa . . ."
"Odd."
Patriot looked over at Genetix, who was bent over a small array of computers and monitors.
"What is it?"
"The door to the 17th level just opened up, then closed," she reported.
"I would not worry about it, my dear," said a man sitting across the bridge. "This ship was quite literally thrown together. I'm surprised the engines work at this point."
Patriot looked uncertain. "Should I go investigate, master?"
The man grunted. "Your opinion has no value with me, Patriot. Genetix, continue to monitor the situation."
"Extraordinary," Artilla remarked, scanning the corridor. It was lined with man-sized tubes. Within each one was a thick, orange liquid – accompanied by creatures that would have looked human-like if not for the technology where the skeletal structure was.
"I recognize these," Vizar said. "These are Mutant Troopers!"
"Indeed, they are. But there appears to be more to it," Artilla said, plugging himself into a computer station and accessing data. "Each unit has been install with holographic projectors. There have also been enhancements to the programming sections. And . . . Vizar."
"Yes?"
"This the Patheon. The Patheon are nothing more than super-enhanced Mutant Troopers. These are clones. Each deck from here until deck 2 is filled with them, one deck per each member of the Patheon."
"That's sixteen decks, though. There are seventeen members of the Patheon," Vizar pointed out.
"It would appear that Genetix is the only true person among the rooster."
"Flipshot will be happy about that."
"Master, I'm now detecting an unauthorized data entry on deck 17," reported Net, the Patheon member who could access and control technology.
"Galactic Guardians," assumed the master. "And if I were to venture a guess, then I'd that it would be Vizar and Artilla. Lock out the data port. Initiate protection protocol zero-three. Pulse, my good boy, prepare an electro-magnetic pulse."
"Yes, master."
"I have just completed download and . . . the data port has been cut-off," said Artilla.
"Shit. They're on to us."
At that moment, metal slabs slammed down before the tubes. Artilla and Vizar turned to each other, then started running. The slabs were protecting the tubes from an electro-magnetic pulse. Vizar opened a comm-line to He-Man.
"He-Man! They're launching an electro-magnetic pulse! Isolate the cloaking device and prepare to get out of here!"
"What about you?"
They went running down one of the slants. "We'll manage on our own. Go! Now!"
He-Man and Mara went to work. Mara opened a secure frequency with Hydron.
"Hydron, the Carrier just released an EMP. I'm not sure if they know it was us or not," Mara reported. "Get everyone together and then prepare a rescue. Hydron? Hydron, can you hear me?"
He-Man pressed a few keys, isolating the cloaking device. He was about to do the same to life-support . . . when he saw the blue light flare out from the Carrier. He-Man grabbed hold of Mara as the EMP overcame. Lights went out, the computers went dead and everyone thing but the cloaking device and a few other manual devices went completely dead.
"We're detecting no ships and no life-forms," Genetix reported to her master. "Whoever it was, made their escape fast. If it was anyone. Surely the EMP would have disabled everything . . ."
The master stood up and stepped out of the shadows. "No guarantees. Patriot, get down the surface with some of the others. Act as business as usual. If they ask, just tell them we thought we had detected a Mutant shuttle and that it may have belonged to the Mutants that might have attacked Werban."
"Yes . . . Lord Flogg."
Without gravity, He-Man worked twice as hard. Using what he knew about the Starship Eternia, he cut off the outer rooms, transferring any of the remaining heat into the living unit. An emergency beacon had been set off and received by Hydron. He had their coordinates and the capability to see them (a carefully guarded Galactic Guardian secret).
Manual light and heating units had been set up in the living unit, thankfully spared from the EMP. Mara gathered up blankets. It was about to get very cold, despite the adjustments He-Man had made.
"It could still be another two to three hours before Hydron is able to rescue us," He-Man told her.
"I know. Come here."
He-Man floated over to the lower bunk, where Mara was floating. He took her hand floated next to her. She pulled a strap from the wall and buckled it around the two of them.
"These are here just for emergencies like these," she said, her face inches from his.
"Ah, I see," he replied, arms wrapping around her. She shivered.
"It's getting colder."
"I'll turn up the heaters . . ." he replied, starting to move towards the buckle.
"No, no . . . not yet."
"Okay."
They held each other, strapped together, and floating above the lower bunk of two. He-Man realized it was probably one of the romantic things he'd ever been a part of. He kissed her forehead.
"I had a crush on you for a long time," she told him, her head against his muscled chest. "Did you know that? Since you showed up, practically."
"No, I didn't know that. Well . . . maybe I thought you liked me, but nothing . . . nothing major."
"Heh. What about you?"
He-Man smiled and held her against him. Despite the dropping temperatures in the cabin, she still felt warm against him. Maybe because of it.
"I always liked you, but not in a romantic way. Not for a while. What I told you the other day had happened right before I came to Primus. It took some time for me to get over that." He paused and held her tightly against him. "But after I did, I set my sights on you."
"And you got me," she replied, kissing his bare chest.
"Yeah. And you got me."
She giggled just a little bit and shivered again. He-Man again reached for the buckle. She grabbed his hands before they could reach it.
"But you're cold . . ." he protested.
Mara looked him in the eyes. Deeply. Longingly. "There are other ways to stay warm, He-Man."
He-Man paused, then smiled.
He moved forward and kissed her on the mouth.
Hotly . . .
Passionately . . .
They made love in zero gravity, tumbling along in a ship in the empty cold of space.