"Perhaps, from some far-off place, our creators watch our tragic war and grieve for us."

-Captain Catty Nebulart, Solnoid Intelligence Division

Departure

The five of them watched in mute horror as the remains of both fleets slowly grew more distant and larger.

"They... they blew themselves up?" Amy whimpered.

Spea nodded. "While trying to blow up each other."

Marcus lowered his head. "I was wrong," he muttered.

"No, Marcus," Shildy told him, her hand still resting on his cheek. "You were right. Peace is the way we should be working for."

Marcus lifted his head to look at her. Touching her hand, he smiled at her. "Thank you, but that's not what I was wrong about. In order to attain peace, both sides have to WANT it to work. I was a fool to think that I could impose upon them something that they had no desire for."

"So... what happens now?" Catty asked.

"I have to warn the rest of my people," Marcus said. "This region of space is not safe for us, as long as your two races insist on solving your differences through violence. Since peace is impossible, evacuation and quarantine is the only option left to us."

"But, what about the four of us?" said Spea.

Shildy looked at them. "We have to go back." She said, determination in her voice. "Now that we've seen what will happen, we have to work to convince our people to seek peace."

"But... how do we do that?" Amy asked. "We don't even know if there are any ships around..."

"A distress message was sent from your leading ship," Sentinel answered, "I am detecting a small group of ships in Lightspeed Mode, heading for this location."

"Problem solved?" Spea offered.

"But – we'll be branded as traitors," Catty stated. "We'll be arrested as soon as we're recovered." She looked at Marcus. "Won't we?"

Marcus shook his head. "You were hostages in my escape attempt. You then broke free of captivity, and in a last-ditch attempt to avenge your murdered compatriots, you destroyed my ship, with me in it. Sentinel can alter your ship's log to reflect that."

"Easily," Sentinel replied. "I will also add some minor stresses to the hull, so it appears that you have been fired upon."

"You'll be heroes," Marcus added.

Shildy nodded. "That's what we'll do, then. We go back, and we try to convince our people that a peaceful resolution is what we should be doing." She looked at Spea. "We have to try."

"There's something I need to tell you," Marcus said to them. "When I was connected to Drel's ship, I discovered that he had left from a fleet that was heading for an attack on your homeworld. Sentinel scanned the area with his long-range sensors, and I'm sorry to tell you that the attack was successful – your world no longer exists."

"Marsus – gone...?" Catty whispered softly, "No..."

Shildy hardened her expression. "All the more reason to go back," she said. "With Marsus gone, our people will be even more determined to fight on. We have to show them that there is a better way to deal with things. We may lose, we may vanish into history – but we have to make an effort to ensure that it's not in vain."

Copying her expression, the other three girls nodded their agreement.

They didn't see Marcus smile imperceptibly...


"How'd that happen?" Catty asked.

Standing by the wall to the landing bay, the girls discovered a large window where none had been before. In the bay, their commandeered fighter stood side-by-side with the one Marcus had brought them here in.

"Don't bother to question it," Shildy told her. "Just... appreciate it. Theirs is a society of wonders that we can't hope to understand in a few days."

"And now we're going back to the War..." Spea said.

"Only until we can convince them to accept help to end it," Catty reminded her.

"Which reminds me," Marcus said as he folded an entrance to the bay, "I'd like to speak with Catty in private for a moment, if you don't mind."

Shildy nodded, and ushered the other two through the door. As it folded behind them, Catty looked up at Marcus expectantly.

"Don't you think it's time you told them?" he asked her. "About the plan, and your nature?"

"My nature? What do you...?" she asked, before realizing what he was talking about. "How did you...?" She blinked. "WHEN did you...?"

"On your former ship, when you embraced me," he said with a smile. "The simulation of your appearance is perfect, but there are subtle differences in your underlying structure. Intimate contact by anyone else wouldn't detect it, but I have a slight advantage in that area. I do think, though, it's time you let your friends know."

"But... but... how can I?" she asked. "There have been others, aboard different ships. They were found out, and things... didn't go well." She averted her eyes from his. "I'm... I'm afraid," she admitted.

Marcus hooked a finger under her chin, bringing her eyes back to meet his. "They're your friends, Catty," he told her. "They trust you. I'm asking you to trust them the same way. You won't regret it, I promise."

Catty looked at him and nodded. She then impulsively wrapped her arms around his waist and pushed her face into his chest. "Thank you," she mumbled through the fabric of his tunic.

"My pleasure," Marcus said, placing a hand on the back of her head as he returned her embrace. "Now, let's get you back to your friends," he said as he broke the embrace and touched the wall to create an opening.

Smiling widely, Catty nodded her agreement.

They walked over to the fighter, to find Shildy waiting at the base of the ramp. With a quick look backwards, she let Catty skip up the ramp. When she reached the top, she turned around and gave Marcus a quick wave before disappearing into the ship. Marcus waved back with a smile.

Marcus looked at Shildy, who was having trouble meeting his gaze. "I... I wanted to tell you personally how grateful I am," she told him. "You've taught us so much... you've taught ME so much. We'll never forget what you've done, and what you tried to do. So," she offered her hand to him, "thank you."

Marcus didn't take her hand. Instead, he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes widened in surprise, then closed as she slid her arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her as she eagerly returned his kiss. Marcus released his hold on her face as his arms wrapped around her waist. After a few moments, their lips parted and their arms slid down so Shildy could hold his hands. She looked into his eyes.

"Come with me," he whispered. "There's a lot of universe left to explore – I'd like to explore it with you."

Again, Shildy's eyes widened. Is this what I've been looking for? - she thought to herself. All of those failed dates, because I've been waiting for him?

Closing her eyes, she shook her head. "I can't," she explained to him. "I have a duty to my people – I can't abandon them, not when there's even the slightest chance that they can be saved." She opened her eyes to look into his. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't be, I understand," Marcus told her with a smile. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a gold bracelet that bore a small crystal on its surface. As he slid it on her wrist, he said to her, "Keep this with you. Place it on any communications console and touch the crystal – it will generate a signal that I can recognize. Use it when your people are ready for the war to end, or when you feel it necessary." He again pressed his lips to hers, and she felt herself blush at the contact. "We'll see each other again – I promise you that." He took a step backwards, and the ramp began to rise with a mechanical rumbling.

She closed her eyes for a moment, quickly wiping away a single tear, then opened them as she turned towards the flight deck - and her new duty...


As they cleared the opening to the landing-bay, the girls turned around to watch the station disappear before their eyes. They expected it to simply fade away - but it seemed to pull space around it, like something being lowered into deep water. In moments, the starfield showed nothing at all of its presence.

"So – he's gone," Spea said quietly.

"Do you think we'll ever see him again?" Amy asked.

Shildy subconsciously rubbed the bracelet he had given her, a slight smile on her face. "Oh, I suspect that we will," she admitted.

"It was an eye-opening experience, though – wasn't it?" Spea offered. "Even if we never see him again, it was quite the trip."

"Quite the trip, indeed," Shildy agreed.

The receiver in front of the pilot's console crackled to life. "This is Captain Corin, commander of the Lorelei Group. We received your distress call, and are enroute to render assistance."

Shildy jumped to the console. "Captain Corin – this is Lieutenant Shildy of the Valkyrie! Our fleet was attacked by Paranoid ships – my three companions and I are the sole survivors! We are low on fuel, requesting emergency pickup!"

"Acknowledged, Lieutenant," came the immediate response. "We are still in Lightspeed, but will be there within thirty militz. Activate a tracking beacon, and we will home in on your signal. Corin out."

"Thirty militz," Catty said. "That gives me enough time to talk to you."

"Talk to us?" Amy asked, "About what?"

"I have something that I need to tell you," she explained, "This is a little difficult for me, so please don't say anything until I've finished saying what I have to say."

Turning in their seats, the three girls turned to face her. Remembering what Marcus had said to her, she took a deep breath, and began.

"My name is Catty, but I'm not what you think I am..."


Standing in the Communications Center of the station, hands clasped behind his back, Marcus watched a projected image of the Solnoid ship fade into the distance. He stood, eyes closed, and gave a heavy sigh.

"You knew that she would refuse your offer," Sentinel said, interrupting his thoughts, "So why did you bother to ask?"

"The illusion of choice had to be maintained," Marcus explained. "We may have been too late to break the cycle for her people... but now that she knows the cycle CAN be broken, she has her part to play in ensuring that it does. She had to be shown that she is capable of dealing with what is to come. I think that I've given her the strength to face it." He looked out again, and smiled. "That doesn't mean I'm not going to miss her, though..."

"But you didn't tell her the rest," Sentinel pointed out.

"They aren't ready for that," Marcus replied. "The knowledge that they are descendants of a Solnarian colony ship that was abandoned during the Age of Madness, found again not long ago - and we've been tracking their actions for millenia, waiting for them to grow mature enough for contact? That is something that they should learn for themselves – when they're emotionally ready to handle the revelation. If they ever are. I get the impression that those four, at least, are almost there – but not quite yet. So we go, and wait until the time is right. I get the feeling that it won't be much longer, though..."

"Vacuum-flux generators online at full capacity," Sentinel acknowledged the unspoken command.

"Nullifier charge nominal. Course set for Solnarian home system, outer perimeter marker

established. Awaiting your command."

"Distribute some nano-probes throughout the region first," Marcus suggested. "This area needs to be monitored, even as we're warning everyone else to stay away. Events are going to progress quickly from this point, and we should be ready to act when they do."

"Probes dispersed," Sentinel announced. "Jumping."

"Time to go home," Marcus quietly muttered to himself.

Hidden from view, there was not even a burst of light to signal their departure...