Tian Cai

By mkusenagi2

The story concept © 5-19-2006
All Marvel characters are © Marvel Comics.
Kim Possible and other Disney characters
are © Disney Co.
I do not own Fred Saberhagen's characters
either.

Level 3: Wu Li Shi (Knight/Mystic)

Part III

12-04-2004
UN/NASA StarCore Station
In Geosynched Cis-Lunar orbit
Lagrange Point 5 or L5
The Centrifugal Section
Crew's Quarters
1100 Hrs

Linda, John, Ron, Kim, Sheila, and Rufus were talking to Peter Jason Quill aka Star-Lord…

"Wait a sec… The Legends are true?" An incredulous Linda asked. "You… The Black Sheep of NASA… YOU'RE Star-Lord? …!"

"Yes Ma'am. Guilty as charged." Peter said with a low key grin.

"I don't understand… what's the big deal?" Ron asked.

"Wait… there's something you don't know?" Kim asked Ron.

"KP there's a LOT of stuff I don't know… this is one of 'em." He replied. 'Man! Tap into some stuff on the Net a few times…'

'Sorry Hon!' Kim. 'S'ok…' Ron. 'Shhh!' Sheila.

"Peter… was a GREAT astronaut when it came to his scores… He was lousy with people skills…" Linda said. "Which is why I'm surprised. So how?"

"I uh… fought for it… Stole a shuttle, conned my way into StarCore, stepped into the teleporter… when I stood before The Essence on that world… It asked Aurora what she thought… SHE chose ME… It's been… It's… The things I've seen…" he said with that strange look in his eye.

"So what's the legend?" Sheila asked Linda.

"The story goes…" Linda began…

When all hope is lost…

When Races have seen their Darkest Hour…

The Man with the Living Ship of Light will come…

"Whoa! She's ALIVE? Wow! So can She…" Ron began. 'Shhh! Ron!' Kim. 'Sorry KP!'

Star-Lord.

The Man of Two Worlds…

Champion of the Downtrodden…

Beacon of Hope…

A Star of Justice…

In the Eternal Night.

The Man to Whom…

The Universe is Home.

"…"

"Wow." Kim said, "So you've seen aliens. God I sound SO stupid!"

"Yes I have Ms Possible… and no… you don't sound stupid at all. I've had the Honor… to help all sorts of beings." He said.

"So how do you guys know about KP?" Ron asked.

"We visit from time to time… Me and Ship… She has other forms…" Peter said. "And beings like Empress Lilandra visit your world and tell folks about your exploits…"

"Ohhhh." Kim and Co.

"So the Berserkers… why are they here? HOW did they get here?" Linda asked.

"Yeah!" Rufus chirped.

"A Berserker Director fell through a crack between this Universe and one next door… It was fleeing a powerful enemy… The Carmpan will tell you when we get to our destination…"

The watch commander, a man by the name of Jones leaned in, "Sir, The Director wants to talk to you." He told Peter.

"Thanks. Guys get your bags packed we're goin' on a trip."

'Carmpan?' Kim, Ron, Sheila.

---

Dr. Corbeau's
Ready Room
1145 hrs

Star-Lord was tying up some loose ends…

"I'll do what I can on this end… No I'll MAKE it happen." Fury said. "You're sure those are the guys ya need?"

"Yes Sir, and Thanks." Peter said.

"Don't mention it… So what's it like… out there?" Fury asked.

"It's wonderful, terrifying and everything else in between. I wouldn't trade it for anything…" Peter said with a dreamer's glint in his eye.

"Did ya find 'em? Your Mom's murderers, I mean." Fury.

"Yeah… And I found my Dad, Sir… Thanks for everything… Especially believing in me enough to help me get my shot at NASA…" Peter.

"Not a problem Son… just do us proud… when ya get the chance tell yer Dad I'd like ta meet 'im. Fury Out."

'I will.' Peter thought.

---

The Black Magellanic Cloud…

The Berserker Director for the first time in its existence…

Was TERRIFIED!

It understood the paradox of such emotion…

Due to its fusing with The Monstrosity…

It had evolved into a… a…

Lifeform!

And now The Monstrosity was consuming its very being.

"I am complete." The Monstrosity said as it finished subjugating The Artifact's technology to it's will and folded The Artifact's consciousness into a compressed data packet for future reference. "You fell for my ruse… The fleet's demise is but a minor setback… SOON THE MULTIVERSE WILL BE MINE!"

---

Team Possible… (Kim, Ron, Sheila, Rufus, Linda, and John) boarded Ship and stowed their gear in their assigned cabins; while Peter talked to The Director.

Ron got a yen to explore (with Ship's permission) and found the galley…

Then he found something that rivaled it…

'Coooool! I'll have to come back here later!' he mused.

---

After goodbye's were said to the station and Mission Control crew, Team Possible boarded Ship and sat in awe as Ship SLID to the Galactic Rim to complete repairs…

While Ship did so, Ron faded away to look at the treasure he'd found.

---

Ron wandered down to the lower deck and looked at the starfield through Ship's Astrogation dome. '…'

'Where's Ron?' Sheila wondered, 'Hon?' 'Yeah?' 'Where are you?' she asked.

'Lower deck…' Sheila went below and saw him watching the stars.

'You ok?' she asked as she stood next to him and twined her left pinkie with his right.

'yeah… Just lookin' at what we're tryin' to help and protect this time…' he replied as he took it in.

'It's something else huh?' Sheila.

'yeah… There's only two people that I think are more beautiful… You and Kim…'

'… thanks hon…' she said as she leaned 'gainst him.

'Guys… you 'k?' Kim asked.

'yeah KP… we're on the lower deck… checkin' the view… Ya GOTTA see this…' Kim went to the lower deck, leaned against the bulkhead, and took in the view…

'They're really happy with each other…' Shielded. 'KP?' Ron. Kim walked over and took Ron's left hand.

"It's beautiful…" Kim.

"Yeah… though you AND Sheila are more beautiful…"

"Ron… That's SO sweet…" Kim.

"Alright folks, it's time," Ship said as she extruded seats from the deck and prepared to 'slide', "repairs are complete, and I've got our heading. Strap in!"

Ship's engines warmed up…

"Next stop Spartax!" she cried as she started her slide.

End Part III