Epilogue

The Spectran guards pulled him up roughly, removing all of the Commander's restraints under Commandant Patrac's supervision. But Mark was so weak that he could barely stand, and Patrac laughed in acknowledgment of the fact that the G-Force Commander was no longer a threat to the Spectran Empire.

"I must leave you now, Commander." the Commandant sneered. "I have the honor of accompanying Lord Zoltar tonight. I will be at his side, as he questions you."

Mark's head remained down, his entire body slumping between the two green-uniformed guards who were forced to practically carry him from the room; not because he was resisting them, but because he was too weak to move under his own power.

Sadly, Mark recalled a time when enemies such as these posed no threat to him whatsoever, although why, he wasn't entirely certain. He had had difficulty with his recollections of the past lately, and frequently it was now a struggle to even remember his own name. But at this moment, such a thing was hardly the worst of his problems.

The soldiers carried him outside, for the first time in days… weeks… months? He wasn't certain how long it had been….

The incarcerated man felt the cool breeze touch his skin. It was nighttime, and the stars twinkled down at him, as if holding back a joyous secret that they were bursting to reveal.

The prisoner felt slightly invigorated, but did not use this renewed strength to assist his guards. He wanted to prolong this journey as much as possible.

The man wanted to be free, and this was the closest he had come to it since he had been captured.

The unlikely trio was approaching the large Audience Hall, the prisoner in red being carried by the two soldiers in green. The man could hear a loud roar of approval coming from the Hall, and he knew that the time of his undoing was near.

And yet, hope still flickered in his heart.

Perhaps it was the cool air, or the velvety soft blackness of the night, or the sparkling stars, or the feel of being without restraints, but the man sensed something…

The taste of freedom.

Another roar broke through the silence of the evening, but this time, the sound did not come from the nearby Audience Hall.

It came from the sky.

The man looked up to see red jets racing toward his position.

Red… the color of his prisoner's uniform…

Anything red must be here to help him!

The soldiers seemed to agree with this analysis, as they began to scream and run, initially dragging the man with them and then roughly throwing him to the ground as the jets tore through the sky above them.

One plane came toward the man, and suddenly, he knew in his heart that this vessel had come to save him. Pulling together all of the strength he possessed, the prisoner ran out into the open, waving his arms at the spacecraft, doing everything he could to catch its attention.

The jet turned, sending a giant missile from its mouth, the instrument of destruction headed straight toward the center of the Audience Hall.

The structure exploded, chunks of metal, stone and earth flying everywhere. The man was caught in the blast, and he tried to flee, but his weakened state prevented him from making much progress. He stumbled, falling to the ground, barely managing to roll over onto his back in the deadly hail of debris. He gasped for air, but choked on the clouds of dust surrounding him, lapsing into unconsciousness as the rubble buried him within a matter of seconds.

But it wasn't the end.

It was only the beginning….

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Mark turned to survey the scene. The large Hall was filled to capacity, dignitaries of the Federation jockeying for seats as they craned their necks to ensure that they had the best view of the proceedings.

Zoltar's capture by the Eagle and the Swan had effectively ended the war with the Spectran Empire. A trembling representative of the Great Spirit of the Spectran People had made peace overtures, and a treaty had been signed. Zoltar himself had been tried and found guilty of numerous war crimes, and had been sentenced to life imprisonment under the Federation regime. Interestingly enough, the Great Spirit had made no protest that Zoltar would not be returned to his home planet.

Already, the former Leader of the Spectran Empire had grown fat and complacent, reluctantly resigned to this valueless role he was assigned to play in the new Galactic Order.

But none of this was the reason why these dignitaries were here, today.

Mark's view shifted as he turned to look at Jason standing by his side, roguishly handsome as he winked at Andie, who was standing at the back of the Hall. The Harrier was supposed to remain out of sight, but she couldn't resist engaging in the flirtatious games the Condor enjoyed. It was evident to everyone who knew them that the pair had formed a strong emotional bond.

Next to Jason, Tiny stood proudly, an amazed smile on his face as he too surveyed the massive crowd. Adjacent to him was an empty space, purposely left open in remembrance of the person who wasn't there to fill it. Today, Mark especially regretted that Keyop was no longer a part of their lives.

A hush fell over the assembled group, and a fanfare began to play. Slowly, Sianna stepped into view, displaying her luminous grace before all as she slowly moved through the crowd, clearing a path for those behind her. She was followed by Andie, whose brilliant smile was the envy of many. Heads turned again, straining to look as finally a couple entered the Hall, following behind the Harrier.

Chief Anderson's face bore a strange mixture of pleasure and shock, as if he still couldn't believe what was happening. At his side, Princess floated above the ground, her elegant ivory and silver gown flowing over her body, molding itself to her feminine curves and trailing behind her, causing the crowd to sigh in appreciation.

They approached the dais, and Chief Anderson held out Princess' hand, placing it into Mark's. As he did so, the Chief's eyes caught those of the Commander, a stern warning being imparted in Anderson's gaze. Mark acknowledged the communication with a small nod and a soft smile. Then the Eagle turned away, focusing all of his attention where it should be on this day: on his bride.

Princess smiled radiantly, her happiness lighting up the room as they stood in front of the officiant, and the ceremony was begun.

Officially, this was his wedding day, but in his mind, Mark was transported back to another time. He saw himself, standing next to Princess, not in an impersonal Federation Hall, but in a small chapel that was special to both of them…

"Do you, Luc, take Kristin to be your wedded wife; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better or for worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health; until death parts you?"

"I do." Luc answered, his eyes meeting Kristin's, a connection being forged between the two of them.

Death had already parted them once, and it had proven to be no barrier to their feelings for one another.

Their emotions… their love… this was their greatest strength, and it would endure throughout everything that was to come.

The End

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Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me through this entire series! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!