Disclaimer – see chapter one
The Great Planet and its warm, emerald beams of light seemed to call them out as they return to the moon, where the Queen Cosmos was. She barely had time to think, during the few minutes it took to get back, on how things turned out after all. She had always been ready to die for the dream so others might live it. But there she was, living the dream and what she never thought possible. Happiness began to infiltrate her soul, but she tried to keep it at bay all the time, especially when she spotted Princess Aurora and her friends from the Starcrow.
When they landed, Belamis witnessed how eager Kugo's friends were to meet their hero. Don Hakka was the first to run to them. Kugo was just taking off his helmet when the green suited cyborg gave him a mighty bear hug, lifting him off his feet. Next, Hakka put his hands on both sides of Kugo's head…
"You fat! Don't..! Yuck! " Kugo wrinkled his nose in disgust and pulled away from him. Hakka had just kissed him on the forehead.
"I'm sorry man, but I can't hold back! I LOVE YOU! HA, HA, HA!" Hakka laughed out loud.
Djorgo was next. He gave Kugo a hug, patting him on the back.
"That was amazing!" He said while gripping Kugo's shoulders firmly.
Belamis, to his right, stepped aside and decided to be just a mere spectator. Like a bad habit to break, she involuntarily turned reserved, recognizing not being part of the celebration that those friends were having. Even though she hoped to make amends by killing the photon monster herself, the fact was she did them a lot of harm before and would never expect to be welcomed with open arms.
While gazing at the scene, she paid special attention to the victim of her misleading pursuit. She has been trying to avoid her, not because she hates her, but for the shame she feels for hunting her once, for treating her bad even though that young woman tried to make her see she was mistaken. Unfortunately, she couldn't see the truth then, she was devoted to her queen.
However, there was something else about the princess that Belamis just couldn't stand since she met her. It was that defenseless, vulnerable, fragile façade most women have, so in need of protection, so dependent on men.
Standing before her protector, the princess, with her long, golden hair and her innocent blue stare, filled with tears of joy, looked like a delicate, pure angel. Absolute gratitude was all over her face.
"My dear princess," Kugo looked down at her with a warm smile, "We can go now."
"Yes…" Aurora's voice shook. A tear rolled down her cheek. Without taking her eyes off him, she took his left hand and managed to smile back.
"Thank you… from the bottom of my heart."
From Belamis' perspective, both stared at each other intensely for too long. She already felt like a stranger and just when she began to feel uncomfortable, Aurora talked to her.
"We are very grateful for your courage." Her tone was friendly, her expression still thankful, "I was worried about you. You can't imagine how relieved I felt when I saw you coming back with Kugo."
"It was the least I could do," Belamis responded kindly. She may not like all about the princess, but she certainly recognized this girl deserved her respect and admiration. Aurora was not an ordinary woman; the Galaxy Energy was embodied in this exceptional human being.
The princess smiled again and dared to take Belamis's right hand, as she did with Kugo. Then she wrapped those hands with hers.
Belamis's heart beat a little bit faster, as she was taken aback by this. She caught a glimpse of Kugo and guessed he was just as confused and surprised as she was.
"All the time I kept my faith in you. I knew you would be on our side and I always hoped that you, sooner or later, would join us". Aurora came closer and tightened the grip.
"Thank you… both of you." She stared at them for a moment and grinned knowingly.
Belamis just nodded. At her side, Kugo was beaming. When she found his eyes, he gave her an irresistible smile.
"We always wanted you to join us," he confessed. Using his other hand, he took Belamis' left hand and laid it on the hands the princess was already holding. He placed his hand on hers. "You helped us to accomplish our mission after all. Now our team is complete."
Belamis just smiled slightly, trying to ignore how her heart was racing just because he was holding his hand or just because he was too close. Again, by the way he looked at her, now in front of the princess; she has confirmed what she already wanted to believe. Besides, she wanted to know more about what he had just said. So many things had happened to her in so little time! How her life was changing got her speechless.
"We agree," Djorgo added and Hakka nodded. They also placed their hands, forming a circle, like a team, like friends, hands in the middle, with the emerald light from the Great Planet illuminating them.
"Djorgo… my dear Hakka ," Aurora looked at them in the eye, her voice soft, her presence full of peace, "I have to thank you too. Thanks for your company, for protecting me, for risking your life for me. For all you left behind… for your sacrifice. For your endless love. All you did for me, you did it for all living beings in this galaxy…"
Belamis studied, while listening to the princess, the faces of Djorgo, Hakka and Kugo. There was genuine love, admiration and devotion in all of them.
Aurora, you're so lucky.
She remembered what she thought once, when the princess was finally her prisoner. Oddly, Djorgo shot the princess. Belamis was shocked, wondering why those who were supposed to be her friends killed her! So Belamis was convinced that what Queen Lacets told her was true then: Aurora was so naïve. She didn't realize those cyborgs, like most men in the universe, were liars and their true purpose was to hold her captive. They would never let Queen Lacets, with her good intentions; reach the princess, so there's no other way than to capture the princess to save her from that bunch of scoundrels.
She felt sad for the princess; frustrated because all her efforts to restore the Galaxy Energy were in vain, but, also, she has deeply disappointed. Couldn't believe how those "bastards" could be so mean. Moreover, what bothered her the most was that, no matter how hard Queen Lacets tried to make her believe Jan Kugo was an evil cyborg, deep inside her heart always told her otherwise.
And she was right. Always right. Hours later, she learned Aurora was alive. For the first time she had doubts about what her queen has been telling her. What those cyborgs did were proof of unconditional love and loyalty, going to extremes to protect their princess. That day, Belamis swallowed her pride and accepted they had deceived her. What they did was a clever move to defeat her. She couldn't help but admire them. She even regretted being her enemy. But, at the end, duty comes first and she didn't paid attention to her sudden doubts.
Looking back, she also has to admit she never won the war against them and now, when she finally can see the truth, she's glad things turned out that way. It was hard to accept at first, but Djorgo, Hakka and Jan Kugo, even the princess, had taught her a lesson.
It was an honor to be in their company. Djorgo smiled at her and Hakka tried too, but he sniffled instead, like he was holding back some tears. Mucus was already flowing out of his nose and his face was becoming red.
"All this has made me hungry!" Hakka broke the circle of hands and the silence that followed Aurora's speech.
All stared at him in different ways, but Kugo was evidently controlling the urge to laugh. Aurora stared back at Kugo, as if saying "don't you dare!"
"Don't look at me like that! Let's go! What are you waiting for?" Hakka left them, his steps towards Queen Cosmos.
Aurora nodded at Kugo and turned to follow Hakka.
"He's probably crying, he's a hopeless sentimentalist," Djorgo explained to Belamis, offering a handshake, "By the way, welcome at last!"
"Thank you," Belamis and Djorgo shook hands. She already started to feel less strange, more comfortable.
"Let me take you to Queen Cosmos," Kugo offered his arm to walk together.
Belamis wrinkled her brow. She felt flattered for a second but she would not let it show. Any woman would have appreciated his effort, but she didn't consider herself "a lady". She was a soldier, a captain who led armies… a cyborg. She's got to the top and everybody, men and women soldiers alike, respected her precisely because she forgot what being a woman was like; or at least she believed so…
I'm sorry Kugo, but I can't…not yet, Belamis wanted to say. It would take her some time to get used to show what she really feels for him. Instead, she said, somewhat sternly,
"You'd better save the gallantry for the ladies."
And then she left, walking with the same proud and extremely confident appearance she usually displays.
"Did I do something wrong?" Kugo shrugged and looked at Djorgo, who had been suppressing a laugh.
"What's wrong with her?" He asked the question to himself.
"Well, from what I've seen, I think she likes you," Djorgo dared to say while giving Kugo some pats on his shoulder.
Strangely, the observation didn't annoy Kugo or the fact that Djorgo seemed to be enjoying this.
"Didn't know I was so obvious," Kugo would not deny anything to Djorgo. The blue suited cyborg was pretty smart and Kugo considered him a friend.
"Obvious? Let's see. You have been worried about her since you met her," They kept talking while going back to Queen Cosmos, "Oh, I remember, you cried for her when we all thought she was killed during Queen Lacets' planet destruction… and I saw your face when she stubbornly left toward the photon monster. But I saw her too… It's so obvious there's something between you two."
"Yeah…" Kugo sighed deeply when they got to the craft. I'm almost sure she also feels something for me but it all depends on her… if she wants to…
They found Belamis alone in the main cabin, preparing the instruments for takeoff and trying to establish communication with the Great Planet. Djorgo seated next to her to assist. Kugo stood between them, feeling glad to find her so busy. He watched her for a while.
"I just couldn't stay here doing nothing, " Belamis said without ever turning to look at Kugo.
"Go ahead! You are an excellent pilot! Actually, I was impressed by the way you landed your space fighter during the storm, remember? The first time we met?"
An image suddenly appeared on the screen. At the same time Princess Aurora broke in, grinning and visibly excited. Hakka followed, sandwich in hand.
"Kugo! It's Dr. Kitty and Professor Dodge! Aurora exclaimed, "They want to greet you! Well, all of you!"
Only then Belamis had the chance to take a look at the screen.