Disclaimer: TOEI animation owns the rights to Starzinger and its characters. No money is being made, so no infringement of the copyright law is intended.
Five giant, sparkling purple, yellow-breasted birds and two riders descended and landed 50 meters away from Queen Cosmos. The slender, flying creatures began chirping as soon as the rain stopped. At the sight of the Royal Palace, every bird quivered gently its glittering purple-feathered wings. Enormous yet harmless, they had a blue ring around the neck, a pale blue nape, yellow eye-ring and bill. Their legs and feet were gray. Soon they remained still and quiet for the riders to dismount.
" Just like I imagined! A magnificent spacecraft, " an impressed teenager dismounted the feathered creature without taking her eyes off the spaceship.
"I guess it was built to endure a very long journey," Her brother commented and started walking toward Queen Cosmos.
"What are the names again?"
"Jan Kugo, Sir Djorgo and Don Hakka," the teenager answered and added, "Jan Kugo is their leader and wears a red suit, Sir Dgorjo wears a blue suit and Don Hakka's green."
"Oh look! That must be…" The siblings stopped abruptly at the sight of a tall, slim figure with long black hair wearing a white suit and a purple cape that didn't match the description of any of the expected heroes.
"Who is he?" They wondered, and then a gentle breeze lifted the stranger's cape, revealing one detail on the uniform…
"AHH! The Garius' Star!" Shocked and speechless, they just exchanged looks, making sure they both recognized it.
The unknown Gariusian turned and then again, they noticed the emblem was even bigger on the cape.
"Garius Royal Air Force, high rank surely," The young man couldn't help to comment out of admiration, "I wonder how he managed to endure Garius' destruction…"
"Our father will be thrilled! This is amazing! We'll be able to go back to him after eight years and now… we've found a true Garius' survivor! We should tell him immediately!" she spoke softly, concealing the urgency to share the news, the excitement of the encounter and the amazement of finding a member of an almost extinct race.
"Soon, sis. For now, act normally. Let's find out who he is and…" Her brother was saying calmly when the three famous cyborgs appeared standing next to the one dressed with the cape. "There they are!"
"Act normally when I'm so happy? I'll do my best," his sister muttered as they resumed the steps towards the long-awaited guests.
The rain had stopped, so she could see them clearly.
"AAH!" Her smiled faded, her pulse accelerated as soon as she spotted them. Uninvited, vivid images of purple flying reptiles with yellow eyes, spitting lethal rays and destroying everything in their path clouded her mind. The exasperated screeches seemed so real…
MONSTERS!
Alarmed, yet ready to attack, she reached for her sword.
"DAMN IT!"Reality hit her. She recalled why her scabbard was empty.
"Why do you need your sword? Is there anything wrong?" Kugo asked behind her.
Startled, she turned.
But…what has happened to you? Where's your radiant smile? Why are you so agitated?
Worried, he peeked at the direction she had looked before. Just like he'd thought from the high-pitched sound, there were five impressive birds and two people coming to them.
"Are you ok?" Kugo spoke softly, tenderly.
"I'm fine", Belamis appeared to be composed, but please don't ask me anything else, her eyes pleaded.
Kugo gestured a very subtle, assenting nod because Djorgo and Hakka had just joined them.
"Ah! Look at those lovely birds," Don Hakka raised his hairy unibrow and commented cheerfully, "I bet all monsters in the galaxy have transformed into peaceful plants and animals by now. Isn't it wonderful that we don't have to fight monsters anymore?"
"Yes indeed," Djorgo was also in high spirits, so much that he didn't worry about the strangers that were approaching. "I bet these people have come to greet us," he told Kugo.
"Let's hope you are right," Kugo stepped forward.
A very young, tall lady, with long auburn, Botticelli curls and also a tall, handsome young man with short curly light blonde hair approached them. The couple was wearing olive/golden suits. The man opened his arms, "Welcome to the Great Planet. We are here, on behalf of the Old Queen and the people of this planet, to welcome you." Next he placed his hands on his chest, "My name is Ragsius and I serve the Old Queen, or Queen Hani as we call her here. And this is my sister Ugrissa." They bowed their heads slightly, and when their eyes looked up again, they collided with the Gariusian gaze.
The three of them saw their own sapphire eyes.
For a split second, Belamis fixed her eyes at Ragsius, concealing her astonishment. Then, she gazed at Ugrissa, until her features relaxed and finally showed them both a slight smile.
"I'm Jan Kugo," Kugo interrupted, which was exactly what he, unconsciously jealous after noticing how deeply Belamis looked at Ragsius, wanted, "and they are Don Hakka, Sir Djorgo and Belamis."
Oh! She's a woman! That fact made Ugrissa admire her a lot more. She was still struck not only by the fact that this Gariusian survivor was a beautiful woman and an important military officer, but also by the inexplicably familiar stare below those bold, natural yet perfectly shaped thick eyebrows.
"It's great to have you, our heroes, finally here. We are very grateful, not only for bringing Princess Aurora to restore the Galaxy Energy, but also for defeating the Monster of Light," Ragsius began. "The monster have kept us totally isolated for eight years now. Nobody arrived nor left this planet since. So, you can imagine how excited we all are."
"I'm really dying to know how you got rid of that monster!" Ugrissa, next to her brother, in her excitement, unintentionally interfered, "I bet it was epic!"
"Oh! That was… uh…" Kugo shrugged his shoulders and looked at Belamis, not sure if this was something she would like to share right now.
"Actually, it is quite a story!" Don Hakka started, "Kugo and Belamis…"
"Let's just say it was teamwork for now," Belamis put it simply, in hopes that it would satisfy the teenager's curiosity for the moment.
"I'm sure my friend here," Kugo grabbed Don Hakka's shoulder, "will be more than pleased to tell you, later, all the details of that encounter. Isn't it, Hakka?"
"Oh, really!" The girl giggled at Kugo. She found him really cute.
"Of course!" Don Hakka grinned.
"Good!" Ragsius commented, " 'cause I'm eager to hear it too!"
All of them chuckled.
"So, you must come with us to the city and join our celebrations. It is Queen Hani's express wish that you make yourselves at home. The Great Planet is your home now. Please follow me. " Ragsius turned and headed towards the birds.
"Celebrations? Parties!" Don Hakka's face illuminated, "I'm finally having fresh, home made food!" And he followed Ragsius happily.
"Starcrow can take us there," Kugo suggested to Belamis. He suspected that, in some way, the birds troubled her when she first spotted them.
"We don't ride a spacecraft here unless it is strictly necessary," Ugrissa remarked kindly at Belamis' hesitation, " Fortunately, those birds weren't affected by the lack of Galaxy Energy. We call them "Bright wings" because they glow while flying."
"Then I guess it is a discourtesy not to ride those birds," Sir Djorgo smiled, leaving his friends to decide.
"We were expecting three of Aurora's companions, but you can ride with me," Ugrissa insisted, expectantly.
Belamis sighed, setting aside the bittersweet memories that Ragsius and Ugrissa; even the birds, had brought back.
"Why not?" She smiled kindly at the adolescent, then said to Kugo, "A flying thing I don't have to pilot, for a change."
"Sure!" Kugo was still unconvinced, but agreed, "I can also get used to it."
"GREAT!" Ugrissa clapped her hands in glee. She had a good feeling about Belamis.
They were greeted with cheers, applause, thanks and songs from a grateful multitude, as they walk through the old, narrow, crowded streets of Emerald City. Made out of white stone, marble or brick; the pyramidal houses and buildings with a base of four triangular sides and steeps steps leading up to a flat top resembling the Royal Palace, predominated along countless narrow canals and their stone bridges. Ragsius led the way to Queens Circle, at the historic city centre.
It took some time to get there, since many people followed them, mostly youngsters. Their laughter and happiness were contagious.
Queens Circle was circled by the most old, tall and elegant pyramid houses and buildings in the city. There was a huge tear cut emerald, like the one Aurora had in her tiara at the middle. Around the emerald, there were numerous statues, arranged like concentric circles.
"The Old Queens," Ragsius told them. "There is a statue of every queen that has been at the Royal Palace."
In seconds, Queens Circle got crowded. Some folks played music and sang. Many people began to dance. The children played.
While passing by, a ball accidentally hit Kugo. The children were about to say they were sorry, but to their surprise, Kugo chuckled.
"Here I go!" Kugo kicked the ball back to the children and played with them.
Ragsius, Djorgo, Hakka, Ugrissa and Belamis watched him play. The mighty Jan Kugo looked like a nine-year-old boy who enjoyed playing with his friends.
"He's really cute!" Ugrissa commented to Belamis and giggled.
And sweet. Belamis agreed, but she didn't respond and kept on watching, mesmerized. This was a part of him she didn't know.
"Kugo let's go! I'm hungry!" Hakka said out loud, desperate for the promised food.
"Sorry guys, they are waiting for me. But I'll see you later, ok?" Kugo upraised the palm of his hand and high-fived each children. Then join his friends.
Ragsius took them to the tallest, finest pyramid house of all. At five stories high and full of windows, it was the only one with a balcony towards Queens Circle and a rooftop terrace. The house interior was an open floor plan. On the main level there was a cozy living room with a fireplace, a dining table, a kitchen and a couple of rooms. One side of the house could be viewed entirety from the main floor. The furniture and décor, mostly antiques, was simple.
They were kindly welcome by the domestic staff.
"Would you rather like to change your clothes, or have something to eat first?" Asked a middle-aged woman who noticed that, although their suits seemed dry after the rain, some of them still had their hair wet.
"I'd rather eat!" Don Hakka replied eagerly and made a beeline for the food that was already been served.
Sir Djorgo gave his thanks and followed him.
"I'll gladly join you," Belamis said to Kugo while giving her cape and gloves to the domestic staff, "I haven't eaten in months!"
"How's that?" Ugrissa asked incredulously.
"We cyborgs don't need to eat every single day!" Kugo replied.
"Oh! I should have guessed!" Ugrissa thought.
Belamis addressed Ugrissa and Ragsius before leaving for the food, "Would you join us too?"
"I'll update Queen Hani first with the news of your arrival here," Ragsius told her, "but I'll join you as soon as I can."
"And I would prefer to get dry clothes first," Ugrissa added, "and I would also love to show you to your room when you're done!"
"I'll wait for you then," Belamis grinned and left with Kugo.
"You heard that?! She's a cyborg too!" Ugrissa, still amazed, pointed out as soon as she made sure Belamis and Kugo couldn't listen.
"That explains why she's still alive," Ragsius signaled her to follow him. "Did you notice the way she gazed at us?"
"Yeah…" Ugrissa replied without hesitating, " like we resembled someone dear to her… and I could even swear she definitely has our eyes."
"Exactly!" Ragsius exclaimed, pleased for being assured that he is not so crazy after all.
"Wait! What are you suggesting?" Ugrissa and Ragsius entered a room, equipped with an advanced communication system and multiple screens that contrasted with the antique décor of the rest of the house.
"AHHH!" Don Hakka watched in delight as dishes were served, glasses were filled with wine… everything so beautifully displayed before him. When he was about to take a bite…
"Ahem!" Sir Djorgo placed a hand on his shoulder, "It's time to show your good manners. Since this may be our last dinner together, we should wait for Kugo and Belamis. "
"Argh! You're right!" A frustrated Hakka hid his hands under the table. Although a minute later Kugo and Belamis were already seated, for Don Hakka, the waiting felt like an eternity.
"Let's have a toast," Sir Djorgo proposed, raised his glass of wine and waited for his friends to do the same.
"To our friendship, which I'll treasure for the rest of my days," Sir Djorgo began.
"I'll drink to that," Don Hakka added.
Kugo raised his glass higher. "Cheers!"
"Cheers!" All glasses touched lightly.
"This is a nice place, don't you guys think?" Sir Djorgo started up a more light conversation and as he passed Belamis a dish.
"With really nice people," Kugo remarked.
"I'm so glad we helped to bring so much happiness to people," Belamis finally said.
Sir Djorgo agreed. "If only Princess Aurora could watch what is going on around here…"
"That would make her really happy!" Even with his mouth full, Don Hakka couldn't help to finish the thought.
"Yeah…" Kugo smiled at the memories of his dear princess.
"By the way, do you still need to wear that?" Sir Djorgo pointed at Kugo's golden headring.
"Uh…" Good question. He forgot to ask the Princess what to do with it once the mission was over.
"The Princess haven't needed to control me in a long time, right? Besides, I did my duty, so she won't need to call me using this thing." Although he felt sadness when he said this, Kugo reached the headring and tried to take it off.
"Princess Aurora controlled you?" Belamis asked, confused.
"Argh!" He grunted in frustration, "I can't take it off!"
"So, you haven't tried to take it off before?" Sir Djorgo now was the one who asked.
"Let me try!" Don Hakka stood up, very willing to lend a hand.
"I don't need your help, fatty! " Kugo stood up just in time before Don Hakka could reach his head.
"You are an ungrateful brat!" Don Hakka got upset, "I just wanted to help!"
"Guys!" Sir Djorgo draw their attention to Belamis, "We have company, remember?"
"Right!" Kugo and Don Hakka seated quietly and resumed eating.
"Is it always like this?" Belamis inquired.
"Every single day," Sir Djorgo emphasized.
"Humph!" She thought about what she would do if she were their captain. No doubt they needed some military discipline. Still, her curiosity wasn't satisfied.
"So, can any of you please explain me what's the matter with Kugo's headring?"
"Princess Aurora controlled Kugo with it, like this," Don Hakka, while still chewing the food in his mouth, crossed his arms over his chest, "and the ring on Kugo's head glowed. It was a pity to watched him in such pain…"
"Controlled him? Why?" Belamis looked at Kugo, intrigued.
"It was just once, at the beginning, I swear," Kugo feared Belamis would think ill of him. "And lately, the Princess just used the ring to call me if she was in trouble," he mentioned, just to make things clear.
"He was the most impulsive, stubborn, bad-tempered, disrespectful, disobedient cyborg of the Solar System, maybe in the whole galaxy," Sir Djorgo was starting to feel this conversation was getting fun.
"Djorgo! You're not helping at all!" Kugo complained.
Why I'm not surprised? Belamis recalled how much she disliked Kugo when she met him. She just couldn't stand him.
"Excuse me, Djorgo, but you forgot to say that he was also the most arrogant," this time, Belamis teased Kugo and proceed to drink some more wine.
"He was so wild that he was imprisoned, totally isolated, in an impenetrable, indestructible dome on the Earth's moon."
"You were a criminal?" Belamis wanted more details, "What did you do?"
"Hell, no!" Kugo defended himself. Better to tell the story from its source, "I was, let's say, Public Enemy #1 once but my anger was against the government and bad guys. I've never hurt innocent people. It's true Dr. Kitty locked me up, but, one day, Princess Aurora came for me to accompany her to the Great Planet."
He remembered everything like it was yesterday. How much he refused, stubbornly, to go on that mission and how he changed his mind when he saw the Princess… she was the most beautiful creature he's ever seen before. So delicate, so helpless…
"This is a magnetic ring," Kugo pointed at his head, "at the beginning of the journey, I still was, well, just like Djorgo said, I wanted to do things my way. So, every time the Princess asked me to do something and I refused, the Princess had no other choice than to send a telephatic signal to this ring, causing me a very intense, torturing pain," he flinched just at the thought of it, "and I just wanted the pain to end, so I obeyed. "
"I must say he actually changed, for the better," Djorgo assured Belamis.
"Thanks, man!" Kugo appreciated that finally a positive comment came out.
"So why if you don't need the magnetic ring anymore you can't take it off?" Belamis questioned, although she already came to her own conclusion.
Because she's the only one who can take it from you. You made an oath: to obey her, and to serve her. You will always be her protector. You'll never be free from your duty, unless she sets you free.
"I'll ask Dr. Kitty," Kugo resolved, then joked, "meanwhile, I'll wear it simply because it looks nice on me, don't you think?"
And he laughed. Hakka and Djorgo rolled their eyes, annoyed.
Just then, Ragsius and Ugrissa showed up. Ragsius changed to a white suit with a golden belt and Ugrissa wore a white short dress with long sleeves. She was cuddling a pet, similar to a white cat, in her arms.
"Good news!" Ragsius announced with enthusiasm, standing at the head of the table, "Queen Hani will join us later today. She would like to meet you and then she will address the people for the last time."
"And maybe Queen Aurora will join us too," Ugrissa took the seat next to Belamis.
Belamis couldn't help to switch her attention to the fluffy feline. He's cute and fluffy like Miu…
"PRINCESS AURORA?" Her loyal guardians exclaimed in unison, "we'll see her again?!"
"Hi sweetie," Belamis, oblivious to the conversation, spoke softly, making eye contact with the pet. It sniffed her hand, then purred and elegantly jumped into her lap.
"Yes, why?" Ugrissa couldn't understand why the excitement since it has been a long tradition, " The Old Queen always introduces the new Queen to the people. It's an old ceremony at Queens Circle."
"Ah!" The faces of Djorgo, Hakka and Kugo beamed with joy.
"What's its name?" Belamis' voice suddenly got all the attention.
"Oh! Her name is Shaina!" Ugrissa was glad to connect with Belamis at last, "She likes you!"
"She's friendly," Belamis, happy and relaxed, petted Shaina's head lightly.
Ahhh! Lucky cat! Kugo wished to take its place, longing for the same affection Belamis was showing to the little feline…
Wait a minute! I've seen this before… he recalled it clearly; when he met her for the first time.
Irreverent, extremely confident on her fighter jet, legs crossed, leaning against one of the twin vertical stabilizers, cuddling a pet on her lap.
"Believe me, she's not friendly at all! She really likes you!" Ragsius commented and told her how Shaina always stares at him suspiciously.
By the way, I haven't seen the pet since then. What could have happened to her pet?
"I think," Kugo wasn't alone that day, "I remember seeing you with a cat like pet the first time you and Kugo fought in a duel. "
"Do you remember?" Belamis' eyes narrowed, as she would never expected Hakka to remember that detail.
"Oh yes, it was cute!" Hakka chuckled.
"And what happened to it?" Ugrissa, rather naïve, asked on impulse.
Belamis' smile faded, and looked down, her eyes following the palm of her hand running smoothly from Shaina's neck to the tail…
"I hope you like it," told her therapist. "It will help you heal."
She fell in love with it. So tiny, fluffy and cute. Her therapist was right. Nothing worked, except Miu.
Every time she had bad dreams at night, Miu was at her side to cuddle. When she came back to quarters, stressed-out and exhausted to death from training, Miu gave her peace. Only with Miu, she could show the soft side of herself. Not the stern, hard officer she had become.
And with Miu, she could be fragile, she could shed some tears…
Kugo frowned. Damn Hakka! Why did he have to bring that up?
"Oops... I'm sorry," Ugrissa realized her mistake and bit her lip, embarrassed for being so impulsive all the time.
"No, it's fine," Belamis, serene, looked up at her, "Her name was Miu. She kept me company for some years when I was still living at my home planet and became my only friend when I wandered through space."
Everyone was paying very close attention. She was calm, somewhat detached.
"One day, I was fighting a duel, against the best opponent I've ever had…"
Djorgo and Hakka glanced at Kugo. Kugo began to worry, wondering what the hell he had to do with Miu.
"But our duel was interrupted, all of a sudden. Missiles attacked us. We fled. The only thing I remember is seeing my rival, in his spacecraft, very near to us and then, a rock hit Miu."
Kugo gulped. I lost control of Starcrow ... I think I hit some rocks. But when I looked back, I was so relief to see that you were fine.
"That's how I lost my only friend."
SHIT! Kugo felt horrible. No wonder Belamis was always so obsessed with the duel.
"At the time, I wanted him dead. Now I accept it wasn't intentional. He didn't know," Belamis looked at Kugo when she clarified this.
"No hard feelings?" Kugo dared to ask.
"Not at all," Belamis smiled slightly and stood up, handing Shaina to her mistress. "Now, if you excuse me."
Ragsius and Ugrissa also seized the opportunity to leave with Belamis.
"Whew!" Kugo exhaled when the ladies and Ragsius walked away.
"A very bad first impression," Sir Djorgo observed, "couldn't be worse!"
"Among other things, that was one of the reasons why she hated me so much!" Kugo determined.
"At least she has forgiven you," Don Hakka tried to make him feel better.
"YOU'D BETTER SHUT UP!" Kugo slammed his fist on the table. He got furious instead, "Can't you see? Look at what you and you big mouth have done! You made her sad and, to top it all off, it turns out I killed her pet! Her only friend!"
Hakka's eyes were getting wet, as tears were forming out of guilt.
Kugo's anger levels dropped. His countenance softened.
"I'm sorry…" Hakka uttered.
"I'm sorry too," Kugo sighed and ran his fingers through his hair... thinking. Then, quickly, he got up.
"I must fix this!"
"Fix?" Djorgo and Hakka, puzzled, asked in unison, watching Kugo as he rushed out of the house. "How?"
"I don't know, but I'll ask for help."