Author's Note: Again I ask your forgiveness for the late update, the muse was totally silent for three months (for this story, anyway), no matter how I tried to inspire it, it would not budge. Plus there were three battle scenes to write that I wanted to have impact and they were slow in coming. But take heart, the rest of the story is screaming at me and I plan to continue to the conclusion of this tale, updating soon. Thanks for the review, support and most of all PATIENCE. And a HUGE thanks to Freddo and whiteswan for the prodding (I needed it--: ))
Glossary of Japanese words & terms
Okashira---boss
Bonzai---a war cry
Hai----yes
Onegai---please
Subarashii---wonderful
THE LADY? OR THE TIGER?
In the pilot's seat of his Red Ranger space fighter Cronus sat in waiting, his frame locked as he spotted the enemy, six Spectran Devil Star fighters all streaming at him and his two comrades. He smiled savagely as his adrenaline flowed and he became filled with anticipation of the upcoming dogfight. It was a form of battle that he excelled at and relished as the sense of competition rose in him and filled his psyche to the brim as it always had from his days at the Space Academy when he had won Top Gun honors, three years in a row.
He reached for his communicator button on the flight dash, and spoke to Masaki and Onishii, "Prepare yourselves. The Devil Star fighters are in range and approaching fast. It appears they want to head us off before we get to the mother ship."
Onishii tapped in, "How many are there?"
Cronus responded, "Six."
Masaki crowed, "Subarashii, there's two for each of us."
Cronus grinned is spite of himself then barked, "Don't get cocky, Masaki. We need to destroy them first." He looked into the dark starry expanse and saw intermittent flashes of laser fire and then saw the six fighters. "Okay this is it, boys! Make sure you watch your backs, draw them in and blast 'em to bits."
Masaki gave a samurai yell as he chortled, "Let's go get those bastards!"
The single manned Spectran fighters, hurtled in at a scattered formation, obviously to engage the Red Rangers in the typical dogfight. Their laser guns were shooting in intermittent successive blasts, easy for Cronus and his men to dodge. They flew in singularly while firing as the Red Rangers returned fire and used evasive maneuvers such as G negative dives, giving the impression of fleeing and on the defensive. But as the Spectran pilots were crowing to each other over their apparent success, they did not realize that the wily veteran of many space battles had drawn them into a trap. Each time they had initiated an offensive, Cronus, Masaki, and Onishii had lured them closer and closer to an asteroid belt that acted as not only a place for the Red Rangers to hide but due to the Devil Star fighters being less flexible in their maneuverability, caused some problems with their pursuit.
Cronus smirked as he saw a fighter tailing him while he was headed to a close knit field of the space flotsam. He used the agility of his Red Ranger fighter to weave in and out of the scattering of matter. He then saw his chance; up ahead there was a field where the asteroids were not only larger, but had only about 60 meters between them, barely the width of the crafts themselves creating what is referred to in The Art of War as Heaven's Net. But the Red Ranger because of its superior aerodynamic design had more agility in tight places. And it was this fact that would spell doom for the Spectrans in this battle. The Red Ranger hid behind a cluster of boulders and sent a communiqué to his squad.
He spoke into his headset. "Lead the others in to the asteroid field, about 30 degrees to the north of the orbit of Charon. I've got a little surprise for them."
As a fellow student of Sun-tsu and instinctively knowing his commander's tactic Masaki replied, "Hai, okashira. Great plan."
Onishii tapped a message of affirmation and so Cronus flew out of his cover and made his presence known to the enemy, shooting off his laser guns. The Devil Star fighters that had been in pursuit took the bait and came screaming at him, their own lasers blazing. They were completely fooled as they chased Cronus and he led them into the most treacherous field in the asteroid belt.
Good, good, come after me Cronus said in satisfaction. We'll see what you do when our little cat-and-mouse game ends.
He steered the fighter deep into the field, leading the two Devil Star fighters this way and that, zigzagging around each asteroid. Reaching the middle of the field, he saw his goal, a natural mesh of asteroids that were placed in a bunch like the rocks on a seashore and deadly to approaching ships, a natural trap. Cronus then slowed his craft down to draw the enemy in closer. As an expert in defensive tactics, the Rigan Red Ranger bided his time as he flew toward the field, then as he reached the narrow alley between two of the largest asteroids he turned sideways and zipped through barely touching either asteroid. But the Spectrans, made bold by their assumed victory and lacking the dimensions of the sleek Red Rangers, tried to do the same by following and then became ensnared as they were wedged firmly between the two huge pieces of rock. Laughing in triumph, Cronus hung a U turn and flew back at the alley, hovering at point blank range right in front of the two trapped Devil Star fighters to momentarily gloat at the hapless enemy.
"Tsk, tsk. Well my friends, it appears that you never learned a basic premise of 2 on 1 dogfighting. And that is to take separate positions to surround your enemy. So you both followed me and fell right into my trap." He smirked as he fingered the blast button of his laser cannon.
"Unfortunate that this will be the last lesson you learn before you go to the river Styx. Sayonara." He pushed the blast button and the bright blue ray from the laser cannon disintegrated both Spectran fighters and the asteroids that had sandwiched them into a fog of space dust. He bowed his head, said a short prayer, then spoke into his headset.
"Masaki, what's your location?"
His comrade in arms replied, "About 25 kilometers port and 45 degrees from dead center into the belt."
"Where are the enemy fighters?" Cronus wanted to know.
Masaki answered, "Right on my tail. We're headed your way."
"Great," the Red Ranger commander said. "Steer them over to 80 degrees port and then leave 'em to me."
"Will do. Over and out."
Cronus flew over to a line of asteroids in a concave formation that created a three-sided enclosure and hid himself above, waiting and watching as Masaki lured the two firing Devil Star pursuers into the extraterrestrial dead end. When both came into range, Cronus came out in front of them as Masaki appeared behind, effectively boxing them in. Simultaneously, both Red Rangers fired their cannon, and two more Spectran fighters were obliterated.
"Four down, two to go." Cronus tapped the button on his headset and Onishii's screen flashed the inquiry. "Onishii, where are you?"
The screen lit up with the coordinates 118 degrees starboard to the orbit of Pluto and Cronus immediately spoke the location to Masaki, "Onishii's a bit farther out so we'd better go lend him a hand."
"Hai okashira."
Both ships blasted their engines and headed for what appeared to be a cluster of asteroids that looked like a sea of shifting rock, moving back and forth in orbit as if being sifted in the vacuum of space. Cronus, leading the way came to a stop as he spotted Onishii's craft stationary within the midst of the asteroids with periodic spurts of fire and smoke from his jets seemingly in mechanical trouble.
Masaki was concerned. "Okashira, we need to help him."
But Cronus grinned as he spoke assurance to his man, "Just stay back here with me, Masaki. He'll be fine."
At that very moment, the two remaining Devil Star fighters were patrolling the field and then sent laser blasts toward what they thought was a wounded and trapped enemy, closing in on the crippled Red Ranger…
Or what appeared to be so.
The Spectran fighters slowed down and crept closer, to finish off the "helpless" space fighter when Cronus ordered Masaki, "Now! Full speed ahead with all guns blazing!"
He and Masaki raced forward with furious blue flashes firing as they keyed in on the Spectrans and the "lame duck" Onishii added his own shots with the three converging on the duo and effectively hitting their target, turning both craft into a fireball.
"Bonzai!" cheered Masaki, passionate as always in victory. "So it was all a ruse, eh?"
"Precisely."
"We got'em good, okashira." This was typed in by Onishii as he fired his jets with no problem and joined the rest of the team in formation.
"Hai," typed Cronus reverting to Japanese as he said to himself All right Mark. Now it's your turn, get that bastard Zoltar and make him pay, big time. I'm counting on you, son. He issued his order to his troops.
"Let's move out, men." And they warped out. . .
On the Phoenix the four male members of G-Force were heading toward the location of the Devil Star mother ship wordlessly, their expressions grim and determined as they readied themselves for battle. Conversation was limited as they drew within radar limits, and could pick up the blip on the communication screen.
Jason broke the silence with his low announcement. "I've just spotted the Devil Star on radar, we're about 24000 kilometers from 'em now, Mark."
"Yeah, I see," the Eagle replied as he began to form a game plan in his head. "Okay guys, let's get ready to rumble. Tiny, activate the Stealth Shield and then prepare for a short warp to the rear panel by the reactor port."
"Big ten, commander. Everybody hang on!" The Owl flicked the switch that rendered the Phoenix invisible to any radar scans and then counted down.
"5….4….3….2….1….Warp!"
The G-Force craft disappeared in a blur as it reappeared at the starboard stern of the Spectran spacecraft and at the reactor port where there were no telepanels and hovered just near the dump exit.
"Tiny, just hang here and extract our boarding tube," Mark directed then addressed the rest of the team with his plan.
"Okay guys this is what we're gonna do. Tiny, you stay here and hold the fort, Jason you take Keyop and knock out the goons in the engine and reactor room and I'll head in to rescue Princess."
"Awww," the Owl protested. "I never get to have any fun."
"Quit your bitchin'," the Condor snapped, his patience thin. "We'll need you here when we get Princess back and make tracks outta here."
Mark nodded as he agreed, "He's right, Tiny. Once we get Princess back, we'll need to make a fast break." He reached for the bomb crafted by 7-Zark-7 and handed it to Jason.
"Jason, you are to locate the main energy line to the reactor and send this little baby in." He handed the long tube to his second in command and the Condor smirked as he tucked it into his belt.
"No prob, Skipper. Just leave everything to me."
A pregnant pause, the proverbial calm before the storm settled over G-Force as the final preparation for the ensuing battle drew to a close. Mark's aquiline visage bore sheer determination as he said quietly, "Let's move out, team."
The three others chorused, "G-Force!" and the Eagle, Condor, and Swallow headed to the exit pod. Once there, Keyop cast a worried glance at his commander, which was caught and to reassure him Mark grinned at the boy and gave him a thumbs up.
The dome opened and all three climbed into the boarding tube to crawl to the rear exit of the Devil Star, which was actually a vent that led into the reactor chamber according to the schematics G-Force had studied. The vent was not only an escape hatch for emergencies but doubled as an exhaust outlet for stale air within the spacecraft to be expelled by the air purification system, making for a perfect way in for the team. The boarding tube of the Phoenix fit perfectly like a hand to a glove and the boys were on board effortlessly. They came to the slatted opening leading into the chamber and discussed strategy.
"Man, that was a piece of cake," Jason remarked.
"Brrrp---too-----brrrp-----easy," the Swallow piped up.
Mark snorted, "Yeah, well if only the rest of the mission goes like it. But unfortunately, I think this was the easiest part, the rest is gonna be like climbing Mount Everest."
Keyop peered out into the reactor chamber and murmured, "Brrrp---place is crawling with goons." His observation was a bullseye, for there were Spectran soldiers everywhere and that made it nearly impossible to make their entrance undetected.
"Yeah, that's for sure," the Condor muttered. "Damn them." He stepped back and regarded Mark impatiently waiting for an answer. "Well where do we go from here?"
The commander frowned in concentration as he studied the circumstance, his agile mind hard at work devising a way to get in. "We have to create a diversion, something to get their attention and lure them away from the area so we can get in." He brightened up as he added, "And I have just the thing."
He held up his boomerang and directed, "Jason, Keyop, get out your weapons."
Both did as they were asked but Jason was perplexed as he drew out several feather shuriken, his secondary weapons, which he could throw with pinpoint accuracy. Holding the projectiles in his hand at the ready he said, "All set, Skipper. Just say the word."
Mark nodded then held a finger over his lips to urge his team to remain silent. He then took his boomerang and using the narrow edge as a screwdriver, he proceeded to loosen the screws around the grate that covered the vent. Fortunately, the bustle of the goons working in the reactor room coupled with the hum of the reactor itself veiled the metallic scraping that Mark was making as he removed the grate, so thankfully they remained undetected. After that he gestured to Jason and Keyop to get into position and gave the directive in a murmur.
"Okay guys, this is it. When I give the signal, you two let your weapons fly and nail some of those Spectran goons. Then rush 'em as they start firing back and while they engage you, I'll head into the ship to locate and rescue Princess. Then Jason, you send our little love token into the reactor when you hear from me, it'll take care of both the pulse cannon and the Devil Star in one fell swoop. After that we'll all split to the Phoenix and blast out of here. And Jason,"
"Yeah?"
"Make sure you don't send the bomb in till you hear from me. We have to get Princess first then we can send the enemy into oblivion. Getting her back is the number one priority."
"Right on," the Condor agreed as he and the Swallow crouched in position.
Eagle Mark then positioned himself behind the two and began to count down. "Okay team, let's roll. Ready? Go!"
At his command, a set of bolas and several shuriken came flying out and flew through the air finding their mark and hitting goons, felling the unsuspecting Spectrans and drawing the attention of the others.
"What the…?"
"Who the hell…?"
Mark nodded and Jason and Keyop flew out and into the confusion as goons, bearing their laser rifles, glanced frantically about, then spotted the Condor and Swallow as the latter gave a glib announcement.
"Surprise, ladies!" Jason reached and hurled additional shuriken, stabbing goons as he dodged the laser blasts with a nasty smirk that showed how he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
"Ahhhhhh!" screamed the Spectrans as his deadly feathers found their target and other goons fired back in fury. But in their desire to retaliate, they ignored the set of bolas careening through the air to wrap around them, causing their weapons to fall out of their now bound hands and arms.
"Brrrrp….bingo!" Keyop crowed as he glanced up at the vent and gave a small nod to his commander before a volley of laser bullets peppered at him and he flew off.
Mark then leapt down and then raced to the panel door as more Spectran goons spotted him.
"Hey it's the Eagle! Get 'im, get 'im!"
The Spectrans fired their rifles at the white blur of the G-Force commander as he dashed over to the exit. He punched the button to let himself out and into the hallway that led into the rest of the Devil Star ship, the door sliding closed causing the laser shots to ricochet harmlessly against the panel. As he sprinted along the narrow passageway, Mark's photographic mind remembered the indicator on the schematic on the Phoenix as to where Princess's Bird Scramble originated. So he followed the picture in his head as he dashed along.
Hang in there, Princess. Just keep the faith, baby I'm coming for ya Mark fervently spoke to his girl, as if just sending the thought would get through to her. I hope you're okay because if you're not, I swear I'll tear Zoltar apart with my bare hands, he's dead.
His thoughts and progress were both interrupted by a familiar, sinister cackle that made his already heated blood boil. "Well, well, if it isn't my dear friend the Eagle, G-Force's illustrious commander! Welcome aboard."
Mark came to a complete halt as he barked out, "Zoltar, you bastard! Where are you?" He looked all around, his even features twisted into a dark scowl. "Show yourself!"
"In due time, my friend. In due time. In the meanwhile, I'm sure you're quite eager to find your lovely companion."
A chill running down his spine Mark became livid as he bit out, "You son of a bitch, where is she? If you've harmed a hair on her head, I swear I'll…"
Another loud cackle sounded as Zoltar replied, "I can see that worry for your beloved has rattled yourunflappable cage. Ohhh you are sooo amusing, G-Force commander. You earthlings are so sickeningly prone to the useless emotion of love; it makes it so very easy to manipulate you like a puppet on a string. When you all fall to the conquering force of Spectra, the first thing we'll do is rid you all of that weak and unnecessary emotion."
Mark stated, "You have a truly warped view of love, Zoltar."
The Spectran warlord snorted, "My view is accurate, Commander. I have spent countless hours studying you pathetic earthlings so I could know my enemy better."
Mark threw his head back and laughed humorlessly as he scoffed, "You know nothing, Zoltar."
"Is that so?"
"Yes it is." Mark snapped back, "For someone who claims to know so much about earthlings, you are truly ignorant. For if you were as knowledgeable as you say you'd know that love is the strongest of human emotions. It has endured for centuries and throughout history has brought mighty kingdoms to their knees."
"Spare me the sentimental speech. You're wasting time and I'm sure the Swan is eager to see you before all of you meet your long anticipated demises." Zoltar's voice echoed in the passageway as he announced, "Behold before you, G-Force commander!"
Mark looked ahead as an eerie blue light lit the wall in front of him, which had two door panels of the same dimension that were both closed. Impatient and enraged he bellowed, "What the hell are you up to now, Zoltar? What's this all about?"
Zoltar's maniacal laughter echoed in the cavernous passageway as he replied, "Just a small amusement for you. I do know how much you enjoy a challenge."
In no mood Mark growled, "Screw you and your games. Just tell me where you've stashed Princess…Now!"
"Temper, temper, Commander. All in due time," Zoltar said silkily. "In the meantime, just wait and see the lovely entertainment I have prepared for you."
"Entertainment?"
"Indeed. The valiant prince here to rescue the captive Princess," Zoltar mocked. "The cliché fairytale except for the wicked warlock who holds her bound. But take heart, you need only make the right choice and you will be reunited with your love."
Mark cursed under his breath as he ground out, "What's your game, Zoltar?"
The Spectran madman chortled as he said, "I'm certain an intelligent fellow like yourself is familiar with the famous classic Earth short story called 'The Lady? Or the Tiger?' about a barbarian king and his unique form of justice. Well, my dear Eagle, I too plan to mete out Spectra's unique justice for the myriad of humiliating defeats we have suffered all at G-Force's hand."
Mark's sky blue eyes were cobalt with fury as he remembered the premise of the story. After a crime or even an imagined slight the barbarian king would have the accused choose one of two doors in his special arena. If he chose wrong, a ferocious tiger would emerge and tear the poor soul to pieces. However, if he made the right choice, a beautiful lady would come out and he would be declared innocent and then as a reward for his absolution, he would be wed to her. The irony of the present situation was evident, as he felt helpless at the hands of another barbaric maniac at least until he located Princess. . . .
…………………………………………………………………
Meanwhile, the Swan was getting ready to square off in her own battle, against Zoltar's megalomaniac of a sister in the tall, lanky Mala. The Spectran Amazon stood before Princess, arms akimbo and eyeing her in disdain as she re-entered the chamber.
"Well, I see you've transformed and appear ready to face me" Mala said conversationally as she unfastened her cape and tossed it into the air, where it vaporized. Clad in form-fitting purple, no one could miss that the Spectran female was leanly muscled and quite formidable.
Princess sniffed, "You're quite the performer, Mala. Are you sure you've never been on stage?"
Mala chuckled, "Thank you for the compliment. I believe it was the Earth author William Shakespeare who penned the words 'all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players'. I believe that applies here so let's provide a good show, what do you say?"
Princess crouched in a ready position for the fight. "As soon as you stop blabbering on."
Mala scoffed, "Earthlings are so gauche. No sense of style and finesse, just charge right in. Very well then, come at me."
The Spectran woman's almost bored attitude infuriated the Swan and with her nerves already on the edge from her prolonged ordeal, she leapt up and aimed a swift roundhouse kick at Mala's mid-section. But the tall woman showed amazing agility as she leapt up and ducked the attack handily. Her laughter rang in the chamber, echoing off the walls and in Princess's ears, grating on her like nails on a chalkboard.
Take it easy, girl she chided herself as her temper rose. She's just trying to get a rise out of you and push you into getting angry and careless so you'll make a mistake. So you just use the same method against her, act like anything she does is no big deal. And whatever you do, don't let her goad you.
"Not bad, little swan. But soon you'll see why you are grossly under matched with me." She reached on her utility belt and drew out a metal base and activated a laser whip. "Your defeat is imminent."
The laser whip then shot out with blinding speed and streamed right at Princess. But the Swan's outstanding natural agility coupled with the enhanced physical ability courtesy of her cerebonic implant enabled her to evade the shot with ease.
Princess landed gracefully and tossed her head. "Is that supposed to be your best move, Mala? You disappoint me."
Mala's ice blue eyes narrowed as she retorted, "Humph, I haven't even scratched the surface. So don't get so cocky."
She readied for another attack as the slithering blue ray flashed and stabbed at Princess as she again leaped up and landed on the infrastructure above the chamber. The ray hit the framework and caused the chamber to shudder.
Princess let loose a musical titter. "Oh, that was smart. I'm thinking that this chamber is part of the central frame of the ship and a few more lashes will bring the whole thing tumbling down, severely damaging the spaceship. Good work."
Princess's flip manner helped fuel the fires of frustration in the Spectran female. "Damn you little bitch! If the ship is damaged, it's your fault for hiding in the frame like a coward." Mala screeched. "Laugh while you can, your demise is assured and I will be the one laughing last."
In abject fury she let loose another ray lash but this time Princess countered with her yo-yo and knocked the ray harmlessly away while slinging out to Mala's fingers with a stinging blow that caused her to drop her weapon. As a finishing touch, Princess sent an electrical charge down the wire to blast the laser whip to bits.
"Too bad," she said in mock sympathy as the smoke cleared. "Spectran weapons seem to be little more than children's toys."
Mala snarled, "G-Force whore! Why don't you put your little toy away and we'll have a real fight?" She crouched in preparation for battle.
Princess snapped the yo-yo back, slipped it in her belt, then leapt down to face Zoltar's sister in a martial arts fighting stance. "I thought you'd never ask…"
Meanwhile, Mark stood before the two doors, his mind spinning as he wondered behind which door Princess was being held. His heart was pounding with both trepidation and anticipation and eager to see and rescue the girl he loved the Eagle rushed forward but was halted by the echo of Zoltar's mocking laughter.
"Quite the dilemma, eh Commander? Which door is it that opens to lead you to your beloved? Is it the right?" He cackled as he finished, "Or the left?"
Mark began to tremble in sheer rage. "You filthy bastard," he spat as one hand balled into a fist and the other reached for his boomerang. "I swear I'll make you pay for each moment you've held her here."
"Promises, promises," Zoltar said sardonically. "Why don't you just find her first before you start talking retribution. The choice is yours." Laughter then ricocheted in the passage as the G-Force commander was left to make his decision.
Mark said nothing as he contemplated the doors beckoning to him. He wracked his brain to speculate as to just which door Princess was behind as well as pondering on the growing realization of the depth of his feeling for the Swan. On the Phoenix as they headed for battle, he kept thinking about how he had fallen hard for her and was determined to bring her back, even if it cost him his life. When he had discovered that she had been taken, he truly felt fear gripping his heart for the first time in his entire role as commander of G-Force and then became focused on his one true objective; bring his Princess back. Filled with that resolve, he finally moved before the one on the left and punched the button to open it.
The panel slid open to admit the Eagle into an inner chamber that was like the passageway, dimly lit and giving him a cold chill in his stomach as he glanced about. His eyes then fell on two glowing green orbs that emerged from the shadows.
The mecha, styled like a metallic jungle cat, crept forward as a digitized snarl rumbled in the air. Mark slipped immediately into battle mode, like a linebacker before a big game. Zoltar's maniacal laughter rang out as the Spectran leader goaded his adversary.
"So you've chosen The Tiger, eh Commander? Well, too bad since this is our newest mecha prototype for mass production when we invade the Earth. So testing it out on you will be a fitting trial to see if it cuts the mustard, as you humans say."
Mark was en garde as the tiger and he circled each other. But he was surprisingly calm as he countered, "Defeating a Spectra mecha won't be difficult since we have destroyed so many."
" Is that so? Well, we shall see. Have fun, Commander. And if I don't see you again, have a happy afterlife," Zoltar said.
"As you yourself said, we'll see," Mark promised, getting into a fighting stance to take the monster on. . .
In the next chamber, a pert feminine figure in birdstyle waited as Zoltar's voice boomed authoritatively, "Prepare yourself for the Eagle's arrival. He should handily beat that mecha and then I will guide him to you where you will convince the fool that you are the Swan and have turned traitor on G-Force, leading him to me where I personally will deal with him. Do not fail me."
"Yes, Lord Zoltar," Rula replied obediently as she devised a plan of her own. . .
Mark backed up as the mecha-cat growled and snarled, its tail swishing angrily as its feral green eyes focused on the Eagle, acknowledging its prey. Then as it lowered into a crouch, Mark's eyes widened and he leapt up as twin green laser beams shot out and burned holes in the spaceship wall.
Damn Mark said as his adrenaline and survival instincts both kicked in that thing's got some kind of bite "Whoa!" he exclaimed as the eyes then found their mark again and shot at the Eagle, which he dodged just in time as he flew into the rafters.
Man, I gotta find some way to take out that cat or I'm toast from his perch Mark studied the mecha as it searched for him, growling. He saw that it not only resembled a tiger but also had limited intelligence as it panned its face back and forth. Then, he saw his in.
There it is! he exulted. If I can blow out its eyes, the lasers will back up and destroy the thing. Mark reached in his holster and pulled out his sonic boomerang. But for good measure before he let it fly, he unscrewed one end and poured some explosive in it, then screwed it back on.
Here ya go, kitty Mark flung the boomerang and it screamed toward the mecha, which countered with a green blast just as the weapon stuck and shattered the eyes, causing the ray to back into the mecha. In addition at the point of impact, the sensitive explosive detonated and blew the cat apart.
As the impact from the explosion caused the Devil Star to quake, Zoltar's voice again sounded in a conceding manner. "Very, very impressive, G-Force commander. I was certain that our newest devise would be able to finish you. But alas, again I underestimated you. So as an act of concession, I will guide you to the Swan."
Feeling unsure about his bitter enemy's sudden willingness to admit defeat, Mark snapped, "I find it hard to believe that you're giving in so easily."
"Be that as it may, I am a man of my word and if you'll look to your left, you will see a panel. If you push the button, you will be reunited with the Swan."
Still wary, Mark stepped to the panel and pushed the button. It slid open with a soft whoosh into another dimly lit chamber so Mark entered cautiously, scanning the interior and then spotting a slight figure huddled against the far wall, came forward, hope entering his heart.
"Princess? Is that you?" Mark approached the slender, white winged figure that looked familiar, yet had him still on guard. He reached a gentle hand to lay on her shoulder. "It's me, Mark."
With a sob she threw herself against the strong chest of the Eagle. "Ohhh, Mark I'm so glad you're here!"
His arms immediately went around her in protection and he murmured, "Shhhh, it's okay, baby. Everything's gonna be all right, you're safe now."
The girl pulled back her tear-stained face as Zoltar's laughter reverberated around them. "Ahhh, young love! It's so very sweet, it warms the cockles of my heart.
Mark scowled as he glanced up to retort but his words died as he felt a blunt object press against his neck. His eyes widened to azure saucers as he saw "Princess" holding a laser pistol to his throat and then recognized the impostor Rula dressed as his girl again.
He opened his mouth to protest but Rula gave an imperceptible wink as Zoltar's triumphant cackle echoed within the chamber.
G-Force fool!" he snarled. "You fell right into my trap. How does it feel to have your lover and former teammate now working for us?"
"That's right, Mark," Rula's voice said in a silky alto purr. "Lord Zoltar has convinced me that to have Spectra rule the universe is the best option so I joined them." She leaned in and barely whispered "Just play along with me."
"Bring him straight to me," the Spectran warlord commanded. "For he is mine."
"Yes, sire." Rula jabbed Mark in the ribs as she barked, "You heard the lord, move it!"
Mark narrowed his eyes and did what he was bid, yet feeling an odd sense of peace as she followed close behind, the laser pressed against his neck. Let me see just what she's up to.
They both exited the chamber as Zoltar's mad laughter careened off the walls.
NEXT……RULA'S REVENGE AND PRINCESS' RESCUE