ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE

STAR BLAZERS---REORGANIZATION

Being the tenth and final part of THE NEW COMET--- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz

This Act is being completed with the Cooperation and Assistance of Derek A.C. Wakefield (as usual)---Freddo

Note-Chapter contains some content intended for mature audiences. (Even though the writer is sometimes not terribly confident of his own maturity…)

ACT FIVE: RECEPTIONS AND HOLIDAY PARTIES (CONCLUSION)

I. JAIL

Earth

Great Island

Fujiyama District Jail

Friday, October 23, 2207

0256 Hours Local Time

Nova Wildstar was lying face-down on her bunk in her jail cell, too depressed to talk to anyone as she thought about what having to appear at trial for assault and battery would do to her service record and her personal record vis a vis her planned entry to Medical School next year in September of 2208. I guess I can kiss goodbye to being a doctor now, especially if they find me guilty for assault…I ruined everything…just trying to defend Derek, my kids, and my friends. I….

Katrina shook her. "Nova!"

"Go away, Katrina…I don't want to talk to anyone…" Nova said as she turned over. She still had on her black velvet party dress, but her underwear, purse and sandals had been taken from her when she had been strip-searched and checked into the jail, like Katrina's bag and shoes (but they had let Nova keep her harmonica). Their guards did not want them having high heels on in jail, as they could be used all too easily as weapons, and their underwear could have been used to strangle themselves with. The guards also said they would even be stripped of their dresses in the morning and given cheap, dirty grey prison dresses…with their convict numbers on the chest. Neither of them liked that idea much.

"I hate these noises, Nova. I'm scared!" Katrina cried as she crawled over and hugged Nova.

Nova perked up her head a little. Some cell doors were slamming down a corridor, and someone was yelling as if they were in pain.

"What does that sound like?" whispered Katrina.

"Either a fight, or the guards are beating someone, or someone is just losing their mind," Nova sighed as she walked her bare feet up the cold cinderblock cell wall. "I've heard about this jail from enlisted men and women caught in this outlying town drunk. It's said that everyone leaves here with a few bruises."

"They beat you? Like those maniacs did when I didn't want to be strip-searched?"

Nova shivered and tears ran down her eyes. "Yes, I have heard they beat you…every day. Sometimes, the male guards do even worse things to…"

Over the sound of someone screaming, Katrina said, "NO!"

Nova nodded.

"You can fight them off," said Katrina. "You're young, strong, and since they were striip-searching both of us, I've seen that you are very well-toned for your age. You protected them from hitting me more, and…"

"I could if I was healthy," Nova confessed. "I'm hungry, I've had barely any sleep, and my breasts hurt, since I've not been able to pump them or feed my babies for the past seven hours! And those female guards hurt me when I got between them and you. If this goes on much longer, I'm just going to have to undress and just express them over the…pot…but I usually do that in private…not in a cell where…"

"They can all see us through that barred door," said Katrina. "I hated going to the bathroom on that thing," she said, pointing to the single toilet, "but…"

"I know. It was the same when I had to go. When you have to, you…" began Nova. She froze when she heard footsteps coming down the corridor.

A male guard suddenly grinned at them and banged on the bars with his nightstick. "Hey!" he yelled in mock good humor. "You two beauty queens awake in there?"

"What if we are?" snapped Katrina.

"I've heard about you, slimebucket!" snapped the guard. "Don't make me come in there and slap you around to shut that nasty-ass mouth. GOT IT?" yelled the guard.

With fire in her eyes, Katrina looked to Nova, who only nodded meekly. Nova then stood up, bowed deeply in Japanese fashion, and said, "Sir, what may we do for you?"

"You're more like it, ya blonde bitch and so-called heroine!" laughed the guard. "I can see you have a nice pair even in that dress. Got your dinner, baloney sandwiches and water ala mode," he said as he shoved a metal tray through the slot at the bottom of the cell door. "Bon appetit, ya drunken skanks!" The guard walked away laughing his head off. "Them and that drunken ugly green bride! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! What a trip! Wait until we get them in prison clothes if they don't get bailed out soon! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

"Bailed out?" said Katrina. "What is that?"

"We're supposed to go before a judge sometime in the next 24 hours for a hearing," Nova explained. "At that hearing, we get formally charged with our crimes, and they set something called bail, which is a sum of money our families have to pay to ensure that we show up for trial. If they do that, we can go…if they set bail, that is. Sometimes they do not."

"How encouraging," said Katrina.

Nova lay back, and then she yelped as she felt something biting her exposed toes on her right foot.

Nova looked down and yelled, "GET OUT OF HERE! SHOO!" as she scared a big black rat in its tracks. The rat wiggled its whiskers, looked at her, and took off.

"Rats," said Nova through thick tears. "I hate rats! I want my babies and my husband and I'm being bit at by rats!"

She put her head down and cried as Katrina crawled up on the bunk beside her, not wanting any ugly animals like that biting at her feet.

Finally, a few dark minutes passed.

Then, a female guard banged at the cell door. "What do you want?" Nova cried.

"Nova, Foxy, Derek, and your father are here…" said the guard.

"Hmmh?" said Nova.

She looked up and saw the female guard opening the cell door. The guard said, "Wildstar! Foxworth-Savela! Get your crap together! Your families are here to take you two outta here! Oh…here's your shoes. Put them back on!"

"Thank you," said Nova as she grabbed her sandals back from the guard and began to put them back on her feet. She noticed that she wasn't getting her clutch bag, bra or panties back, but that didn't bother her that much, since she heard Ariel whimpering, and she felt a tingle in her breasts. She's probably hungry, Nova thought. I can feed her soon, and we'll all feel better.

"Did we get bailed out?" said Katrina as she slipped into her sandals.

"We still have to appear for trial?" Nova said.

Karl Forrester shook his head. "No, dear," he said. "Apparently, some of the guards spoke to that…Cometine girl…and convinced her to drop the charges against you two. The Magistrate decided not to hold you any more. All charges dropped; your actions were considered self-defense. Neither of you have to come back for this prefecture for trial, and you both can leave. Unless you are studying that graffitti in that jail cell for an art project, Nova dear?"

"Thank you, Daddy!" Nova cried as she hugged her father after she slipped back into her heels. Then, she ran to Derek and accepted his hug and a deep kiss, along with kisses from Alex and Ariel. Katrina likewise ran to Foxy's arms and let him comfort her.

"What will become of Caella?" said Nova.

"They are still holding her in here until Sakamoto-san makes her bail, which is ten thousand credits," said the female guard in clipped tones. "Now, please move along! I need this holding cell ASAP for some drunken prostitutes we just picked up."

"And as for Sakamoto?" said Derek.

"The Shore Patrol has him in the brig at Fujiyama Air Base," said the guard. "Now, get out of here!"

The party gladly left the jail a moment later.

Nova closed her eyes, smiled and nodded at Derek as they left, and then they went towards the Forresters' minivan.

Before long, they would be back at the Wildstar residence on Great Island.

II. HOMECOMING

Earth

Great Island

On the Road

Friday, October 23, 2207

0359 Hours Local Time

The air-van that Karl Forrester drove his family home in had three bench seats.

Karl and Teri sat in the bench seat in front with little Aurora and David buckled in between their mother and father.

In the second bench seat rode Derek and Nova, who were crammed in next to Deke Wakefield and Sasha.

In the last seat rode Katrina and Foxy, who were next to little Alex and Ariel in their car seats.

Quarters were a bit tight (Deke had Sasha pretty much in one side of his lap and Nova in the other, even though most of Nova was against Derek) but they managed to get by as the van drove through the dark.

"I'd love to know again how you and her got yourselves arrested," teased Deke.

"It's simple," Nova began. "We…"

Then, Ariel, who had almost fallen asleep, began to cry. No. She began to scream.

"What is wrong with her?" asked Katrina.

"She needs me," Nova said as her mother looked back and smiled. "Bring her up here?"

Before Katrina could react, Foxy got the car seat undone, and he handed the baby girl to Sasha, who passed her to Deke, who then placed her in her mother's lap while Derek helped to hold her.

"What's wrong with you?" said Nova. "Hmm?" Nova felt her diaper beneath her little dress. Dry, she thought. Nova rubbed her back while stroking her hair. Not colic, she thought as she blushed and felt her breasts aching for her baby again.

"Derek?" said Nova.

"Yes?"

"Reach around back and unzip me," Nova said as she brought up her feet and slipped her sandals off. "I'm going to have to undo my dress…"

"Should I close my eyes?" said Deke.

"Deke, you've seen me in even less," Nova said as she sat up. Derek unzipped her dress, and she pushed the velvet dress off her right shoulder, and slipped her arm out of the sleeve, struggling a little as she bared her right breast.

Nova then shivered and squeaked as her breast let go and sprayed Ariel, Derek, and her own dress with a milk bath. "Oh, NO!" she cried.

Ariel was still crying as her mother looked back. "What happened?" said Nova's mother Teri.

"Sorry, Mother, gusher…" Nova said as she both tried to clean up a little and put Ariel to her breast. Ariel finally latched on as Derek handed Nova some baby wipes and Nova began to clean Ariel and herself off as best as she could. Soon, Ariel's little dress ended up on the floor of the van and off Ariel along with her little shoes and socks.

"Awwww….She looks happier in just her diaper," said Sasha as she smiled reached over to tickle Ariel's little toes. The baby girl smiled and then giggled a little as Sasha then tickled her chest and tummy. Katrina also looked on and smiled as Nova comforted and fed her baby.

"Yes, she would," said Nova as she shivered. I have to get something out of the other breast, Nova thought. "Excuse me, Deke, Sasha," said Nova as she undid her left sleeve and left breast as she pushed her dress off down to her waist as she sat there with her legs stretched out for a moment.

As Nova then put Ariel to her left breast, her own wet black velvet dress began to slide down. She struggled to keep decent, but finally gave up a moment later as the dress simply slid off her body down around her toes. Nova pulled her feet up, and to Derek's delight (and Deke's mild surprise), she just sat there totally naked in the dim light with her baby in her lap.

"Sorry, I'm all sticky anyway," Nova said as Alex woke up and began to scream.

"It's all right," said Deke, who thought, With both breasts exposed, she just looks more comfortable naked, somehow, as Nova took a deep breath, and thought, Thank You God, for letting me get out of my clothes to do this amongst friends…og, my breasts were really hurting! "Nova, it sounds like Alexander needs to be fed, too…"

Alex was handed to Derek, who handed her to Nova. Derek also helped put the baby boy to his mother's left breast as Nova put Ariel to her right breast again. Nova then laughed and said, "He sure does, don't you, you little piggie-wiggie?" Then, she felt Ariel's diaper. "Wet. Derek, do we have spare diapers around?"

"Have to see if I can find the bag," Derek replied.

"No big rush; she has to air out for a while anyway," Nova said as she undid Ariel's diaper and pulled it off, baring her little bottom against her mother's thigh. From the front seat, little Aurora looked back and called out, "Awww, sis, she's nekkie!"

"She's wet," said Nova as she patted her baby girl's legs and tush. Derek handed Nova a baby wipe, and Nova washed her little girl while Deke said, "Again, how did you get yourself arrested, Nova?"

"Katrina and I were trying to stop Caella, who went crazy," Nova said as she sat there in just her skin, wiggling her toes a little as she talked and nursed Alex and Ariel. "Caella had attacked Wendy, and she was like a bull in a china shop, right, Katrina?"

Katrina, who was half asleep, woke up and said, "Yes, she went nuts, and…Nova. Where's your clothes?"

"You don't remember? Off. On the floor. The little ones were hungry and I had a milk gusher. My boobs..are…uh…starting to feel better now," Nova said as Derek kissed her. Derek then said, "Nova, Alex's bottom feels wet…and I can't find the diaper bag in the dark…"

Nova felt Alex's little tuxedo shorts. "You're right, dear. He is wet. Nova then took off Alex's little black socks (she had taken off his little shoes as he fed) and then, with Derek's help, she got him out of his little shorts and diaper. Nova then found his little shirt was wet, so his tiny tux jacket, bowtie, and shirt came off, leaving Alex naked in his mother's arms like his sister. Derek washed his son's bottom as best as he could while he played with his toes, but he said, "I think all three of you are going to need a bath when we get home, Nova."

"Me too," Nova said. "Oh, Deke, about the fight…I just couldn't help it, either, when my fist met Caella's nose…and I just couldn't help it when my sandal on my foot kicked her in the butt. The worst part was when that hick boy wanted to hurt my little Alexander by throwing him the cake. Babies are NOT basketballs!"

"Momma bear syndrome?" said Deke with a grin as he looked at Sasha, guessing Sasha would act them same when their daughter was born.

Nova nodded. "I'd do anything for my little ones. I go through lots of pains to keep them nicely clothed, clean when they have to have no clothes on, and I do not care about my modesty when they get hungry and need my breasts or need to be bathed, because I almost always just take them in the bath with me. But, hurt them, or try to hurt them, and I will go wild to protect my children."

A little more light from the impending Dawn shone into the car, and Derek gasped as he saw a few bruises and abrasions on his wife's naked flank. "Nova! How did you get those?"

Deke noticed the nicks and bruises on Nova's body at the same time as he swallowed hard and said, "Nova…did you get…nicked up fighting Caella?"

"No. Protecting Katrina," Nova said as Katrina looked at her friend's nakedness and then bowed her head. Karl and Teri looked at their daughter and said, "Who did that to you?"

"The guards…when they were strip-searching us," Nova said. "I knew I'd have to be searched, so, I just took off my clothes when they ordered me to."

"I didn't," said Katrina. "I wanted to strip in private. Not in front of Nova, four other female guards, and one male guard. I told them so…and they began to hit me and forced me to strip."

"More like they held her down and pulled her dress off," Nova said. "Then, they began to hit her with nightsticks….and then I got up, and threw myself over her to protect her from the beating. They…" Nova sobbed. "They started to hit me, too….they hit us both…while we were…both naked, and…"

Nova just gave up and cried as she fed her children while Derek held her.

Foxy held a crying Katrina, outraged by the treatment she had received in jail. He carefully lifted her dress a little and saw bruising on her thighs, too. "Is anything broken?" he said.

"I do not think so," Katrina sobbed.

Derek began to feel Nova's left side, checking carefully for broken ribs, while he said, "Nova, I can't reach your other side right now. Deke, feel her right side to see if any ribs or anything are damaged…"

Deke nodded and reluctantly did so. He was afraid of a headache, but Sasha just hugged him as he carefully felt her aunt's naked side. "Nova, does it hurt when I do this?" he asked.

"Not much," Nova sobbed as she shook her head and kissed Derek. Deke's probing went down to Nova's bottom, which, as he found, was almost as smooth and soft as her baby daughter's little bottom…(with Nova's consent, Deke had also played with the two little babies as they fed at their mother's breasts). Finally he said, "Wildstar, nothing's broken on her right side."

"Same on the left," Derek said. He then looked at Nova's bare foot. "Nova, what's this mark on your toe?"

"A rat bite from the jail," Nova said. "I tried to clean it as best as I could. I'll need a tetanus shot when we get home. I have a booster in my nurse's bag in the closet that I can give myself, or that you can give me, Derek, if I can't reach back there."

"Can't reach back there?" Derek murmured.

"My bottom," Nova said. "It'll hurt, but getting it in one of my arms, which I need for the babies, would hurt even worse."

"We should sue that municipal government," said Karl as he looked back at his daughter.

"I think so," said Nova. "Even though these bruises will fade in a few days. Katrina, I know they got you, too. I'll want you to strip for a bit, too, when we get home."

"Why?" Katrina snapped.

"So that I can treat you and take pictures of the way you look."

"Pictures?" hissed Katrina.

"For the court case. For evidence…before the bruises fade. Look at me, for example. To show where a few of the bruises are…Derek will have to photograph me with no clothes on," Nova said as she flexed one of her legs, and Deke could see what she was getting at when he glanced at one of her upper thighs. "Foxy or I will have to do the same with you," Nova added.

Katrina grunted as Deke said, "We're going to have to make a deal about tonight."

"A deal?" yawned Nova as she took Alex off her breast for a moment to burp him.

"We'll discuss it at home later," said Deke. Hopefully, after you put something on, he added to himself.

A while later, at the Wildstar residence, Deke continued to talk with Nova.

Execpt for a few minutes alone with Derek, during which, he assumed, she had her pictures taken and had gotten her tetanus shot in her bottom, Nova still was very much naked.

However, Deke couldn't begrudge her, since she was sitting on a white rug in their bathroom, preparing to bathe Alex and Ariel by getting into the tub with them, and still occassionally nursing a little, as well. The scene reminded him a little of Sasha Morningstar and other near-naked or naked women he had seen caring for their babies in the shelters and underground cities.

Even the bruises on her did not look quite that bad; Nova sat on a spot on the floor where the morning sun shone down on her body from a skylight; with slightly wet hair and her legs curled up, she looked a bit like a water sprite as she washed her babies, played with them, and occassionally let them feed at her breasts as she got ready to go into the tub with them. It all looked very sweet, particularly when they both got hungry at once.

"Okay, let's make a deal," Deke said.

"What kind of deal?" Nova asked as she tickled Ariel.

"You don't mention to me and Sasha that time on the beach on Iscandar anymore, when you found us naked and in the deed, and I won't mention this fight you had with Caella or your being in jail, or the rest of the aftermath of that fight. Because now, ma'am, both of us have some skeletons in our closets."

"I'd say that's a deal," Nova agreed with a tiny smile. She extended a somewhat soapy hand (she was in the midst of washing Ariel) and Deke and she shook on it just as Derek popped into the bathroom. "Almost ready, yet?" he said.

"The water's almost ready, if that's what you mean," Nova said. "Help me get them into the tub?"

Deke respectfully turned his head as Nova unlimbered herself and stood up as her husband helped her into the tub. He got enough of a glimpse of her bare tush, though, that would have given Brew a month of fantasies.

As Nova sat on the side of the tub, she turned her head and said, "Oh, Deke! Does Brew, or…Toad…still have that thing for ladies' backsides?"

"Yeah, I think so," said Deke.

"Derek, after this bandage comes off my tush, you should get the camera so that we can send Toad a little present," Nova teased.

"What kind of present?" said Deke.

"A picture of my tush and Ariel's while I am feeding her. Nice back view of both of us in our birthday suits. Sealed with a kiss," Nova teased as she slid into the water holding her daughter. Derek handed her their son as Jonathan poked his head into the bathroom in a kimono.

"Jonathan, dear, that will have to wait," Nova said. "It's a little crowded in here already. You wouldn't quite fit in the tub with all of us at once! The one time we tried, it got very messy!"

"Awww, Mom," he said. "I wanted to splash Alex."

"You can play with him in the tub later," Derek said with a smile.

"I think I'll leave you guys alone for now," said Deke.

"Good idea," said Derek.

Katrina sat in a robe in one of the guest bedrooms in a state of depression in a robe Nova had given her after she had made her take her dirty dress off. She was so depressed that she had made even Foxy stay away.

A tap came at her door as she sat on the bed with her head down. "Go away!" she said. "I am wounded, hurting and…"

Nova's voice came through the door. "Katrina, it's me. Nova. May I come in?"

Katrina opened the door. Nova came in, in only a kimono, with a small bandage on her right big toe, carrying her white nurse's bag. "Foxy misses you."

"I do not want to see him now. I am wounded and ugly, and…what are you doing?"

With the door closed, Nova had set the bag on the bed and she was opening her robe. "Getting ready to give you a shower. There is a shower in the bathroom in here, and I can see I'm going to have to help you like I did that one time in the hospital. Remember?"

Nova then let her kimono slip off her slightly bruised form and she gently sat naked on the bed with Katrina as she opened her robe. "I don't know why you don't like to be exposed. You're actually very pretty and you have nothing to be ashamed of. You have a nice figure!"

"I am not like you and do not have a work of art figure I can run around just naked in like you can," huffed Katrina as Nova gently undressed her. "Foxy barely loves me."

"Katrina, I'll be blunt. That is a pile of crap! He adores you! He wants to be intimate with you later, if you feel like it. Derek wants to…you know…but I've been sort of busy. We did cuddle a bit when he gave me a tetanus shot before." Nova did not want to say that Derek's tender "cuddling" of her naked body after she had receive her painful tetanus shot had led to her having a dissolving, hot climax in his lap on her knees, but, given where Derek's hands had gone, how could that have been helped?

"I do not know," said Katrina. "Those women in those uniforms in that jail, making me strip, touching me in those places…what about that thing with the pictures for the court?"

Nova sighed. "I know. They touched me there, too. I felt like I wanted to throw up, but I've been touched like that a bit by my doctor and my pedeatrician in the past two months, with having Alex and Ariel." Nova then opened her nurse's bag. Katrina saw that there were all sorts of bandages, medical instruments, and medicines in bottles and vials in the bag. Nova got some kind of salve and a gauze pad and said, "Let me rub this into your bruises; it'll help with the pain. I'll take the pictures later."

"I do not want anyone seeing them in an open trial. I…"

"I talked with my father already," Nova said. "He said they would not be presented in open court but shown to the judge in private in camera in his or her chambers. For the civil suit, my father wants to try to make the prefecture settle out of court without a trial. As for any criminal proceedings against those guards, my father said it would be up to the district attorney to press charges, but the pictures would not go into open evidence in a crminal proceeding, either, most probably. That is, unless one of us had been killed in there."

Katrina nodded dully and she trusted Nova to touch her. To her surprise, Nova was careful and tender, unlike the damned guards in that damned jail. Nova sat close and put a leg around Katrina, holding her almost like a child so that the tense young woman received some softness and warmth from her body. Nova's skin was soft, and she smelled a little like her children as she cared for Katrina, holding her in a protective fashion as she worked on her wounds and hurts.

Then, Nova helped her into the shower. Nova handled her tenderly in the shower as she washed Katrina all over and carefully washed her hair.

Then, when they were done, Nova brought her out, dried her, and carefully gave her a tetanus shot in one arm. It hurt, but Nova helped her through it very gently. Then, she got the camera and had Katrina shut her eyes while she took a few pictures of her naked body, focusing carefully on only the bruises and wounds. Nova then showed Katrina the prints, along with the similar pictures Derek had taken of her. Katrina was slightly relieved in that all of the pictures focused on their wounds. They were not like "centerfold" pictures and didn't show everything. Then, Nova dressed in her kimono and put Katrina in her robe. Katrina then curled up under the covers to take a nap and to be left alone while she felt horrible about herself.

Unknown to her, as she slept, Foxy came into bed with her and just held her. She slept in an uneasy sleep while Foxy held her, stroked her, and kissed her in her sleep.

Later on, Katrina woke up in Foxy's arms. She knew who was holding her at once. "Why are you wasting your time with me?" she mumbled.

"Katrina, dear, you're silly," said Foxy as they lay alone in the guest room. It was sometime in the afternoon, and the house seemed very quiet. "We're almost alone in here, you know."

"Alone?"

"Nova and Derek went out before with Nova's parents. They took all the kids; they were going into town for a while. Sasha and Deke are still in the house, in the other guest room. So, it's just us."

"Why don't you go play with the Iscandarian?" said Katrina as she Changed into Invidia. "She won't mind."

"Why are you talking like this? I'm not married to Sasha. Deke is married to Sasha, who is very happily pregnant with his kid. I'm married to you, and you're beautiful."

"I'm thin, and I'm ugly and I look like a matchstick. Those guards in that prison said that. Those damn girl guards." Invidia sniffed. "I used to put people in jail where I came from. Now, that I know what it is like to be in a jail, I could never do that again. I'm horrible. I'm…"

Foxy pulled the sheet off her naked body, very slowly. "You're beautiful," he purred.

"You're just saying that."

Foxy kissed her and shook his head. "You have a nice, flat tummy. Perfectly flat. Long legs. Cute feet. A cute, curvy bottom. Nice breasts," he said as he gently teased them. Invidia began to feel warm and tingly as he kissed her nipples. "And I want to marry you all over again."

"We are already married," said Invidia.

"I…owe you a wedding," Foxy whispered. "A big wedding. A reception. A reception better than Homer and Wendy's reception. I want to see you sweeping down the aisle in a beautiful gown, and I want to dance with you in a beautiful reception hall that looks like a palace. I want to drink champagne from your slipper and give you a second wedding night on silk."

"That…sounds…nice," said Invidia as she smiled a little.

Foxy kissed her, and then, at that, she pulled close to him. "Be naked with me," she whispered. "Make love to me…"

"Oh, I will," said Foxy.

And, at that, that was exactly what he did.

He made love to her in the afternoon, unnoticed as Sasha and Deke got up and made themselves a quiet lunch after enjoying the afterglow of their lovemaking.

Sasha then sat on Deke's lap and cuddled him while he rubbed her stomach in the t-shirt she had on over her shorts.

Sasha smiled at Deke and said, "A bit of afternoon delight in the same room we had our wedding night in? Wasn't that romantic?"

"Sure was," said Deke. He touched her stomach. "I'm scared."

"Of what, Deekee?" said Sasha.

"Of being a father," said Deke. "Look at everything Wildstar has to do. He has to hover over Nova so much, and help so much with the kids…"

"They have two," said Sasha. "We'll only have one little baby girl to start with. Is that that bad? It's not after the birth that's worrying me, though, Deke. It's the process itself. It makes you…like a different person. Nova was almost like an animal with the pain when she had Alex and Ariel. She's so dignified, but she was all naked and bloody and screaming her head off. You didn't see most of it, Deekee. She was…wild. She hurt Uncle Derek twice."

"Think you might hurt me?" said Deke.

"Maybe. I don't know what I'll do," she said as Deke held her. "I'm scared. I'm so scared…"

"So am I," said Deke as he kissed her again.

They cuddled, right in Derek and Nova's kitchen as Sasha finally said, "Then let's be scared together."

"Good idea," said Deke.

III. TRIAL

Earth

Great Island

Idlewild Fight Base

Monday, November 9, 2207

1400 Hours Local Time

Rear Admiral Nishiyama, the presiding officer at this court-martial, tapped a bell as he said, "The Defendant will now rise."

Lieutenant Bryan Hartcliffe, in his blues and his peacoat, stood tiredly as he faced a court-martial board made up of three members; Admiral Nishiyama, Commander Dashell "Dash" Jordan, who was now the commander of the EDF space destroyer Pittsburgh, and Senior Lieutenant Homer Glitchman, who was still the Argo's Communications Officer, on TDY assignment to Earth Defense Headquarters. It was felt that Homer would probably see promotion to Lieutenant Commander at last next year, but he wasn't thinking much about that as he and Dash looked at each other, looked at Admiral Nishiyama, and then looked at Hartcliffe.

"The decision of this Special Court-Martial board was unanimous," said Nishiyama as he looked at Hartcliffe, who was sitting there alone with his defense attorney, a young Lieutenant named Peter McCandless. "With respect to the first charge, that you, Lieutenant Hartcliffe, did knowingly and deliberately, on September 27, 2207, assault your pregnant wife, Angelique Hartcliffe, the finding is guilty as charged. With respect to the second charge that, you, Lieutenant Hartcliffe, did on September 27, 2207, knowingly and deliberately attempt to commit aggravated assault upon your spouse, Angelique Hartcliffe, with the intent of causing her to miscarry her child, the finding is guilty as charged."

"Our sentence is as follows;" said Nishiyama. "That you be taken to the Federal Correctional Facility in Leavenworth, Kansas, and that you are to be held there for twelve months, and that you, upon completion of that sentence, are to be dismissed from the Earth Defense Forces and your trust as an officer of said Forces."

Hartcliffe nodded, but his lawyer stood and said, "Sir, we would like to appeal this sentence, as is our right, before a Full Court-Martial Board."

Nishiyama looked at Dash and Homer, and he nodded. "Your appeal is granted," he said as he rang his bell. "Sentence suspended until the appeal is to be heard again before a Full Board. These proceedings are completed."

The bell rang, and Hartcliffe stood with the others as he faced down everyone else from the Argo's bridge crew, and his wife, Angie.

"That means I can go home," said Bryan to Angie. "I…"

"Not now," said Angie. "I don't think I want you home yet."

"Wot?" said Hartcliffe.

"You are a convicted officer," said Angie as she held her stomach. "I'm going to have our son in, maybe, three more months," she said. "I don't know if I want him to have a convicted wife-beater for a father yet or not."

"What?" Hartcliffe said.

"Bryan, get away from her," Nova said in an even voice as she came between Angie and Bryan. "Don't make this worse…please."

"And what are you doin' in a suit, luv?" said Hartcliffe.

"I have business of my own today, in a civilian court, with Derek," Nova snapped as she smoothed down her pleated skirt. Derek had on his peacoat, cover, and white Star Force slacks and he looked very serious as he came up to Nova and protectively held her. "If you'll excuse us…"

"You ain't divorcin' 'im, are yer?" yelled Hartcliffe.

"NO!" snapped Derek. "This is none of your business, Hartcliffe," he said as a few military guards walked Angie away from him.

"This is bullshit!" yelled Hartcliffe. "Bull…"

"You'll just make things worse," said Lieutenant McCandless as the JAG officer walked Bryan away from his wife. "Let's go…"

Nova sat their aircar in the dark brown tweed suit she had on as Derek drove her to the Courthouse in Fujiyama District. Nova adjusted her bowtie and said, "I can't wait to get this over with, Derek."

"I hope your father can just get them to settle, too," he said. "After seeing what they had to put Hartcliffe through, even though he deserved it…I do not feel like sitting through another trial."

Nova nervously tapped her sandaled foot against the floor of their aircar. "Neither do I, Derek."

They finally arrived at the Courthouse an hour later. After passing through security (and a few Press cameras), they entered the Judge's chambers for Courtroom 212.

Inside, they found Foxy sitting there in his usual yachting outfit and blazer, waiting with Katrina, who had on a dark blue skirted suit, dark red blouse, and dark red sandals. "Ah. Glad to see you here, Nova," said Katrina.

Sitting at a table was Karl Forrester, who sat with a folder of papers. Not far away sat Taro Sayama, the lawyer for the Fujiyama Prefectural Government.

To Nova's and Katrina's relief, the judge was a middle-aged woman named Fujiko Asagami. She looked around and said, "It'll just be us today. Mister Forrester, Fujiyama Prefecture has examined the claims of your clients, and has offered to settle. He wishes to describe the terms of the settlement."

Sayama bowed and said, "We admit the charges in your suit and offer the following in settlement. First, the immediate termination of the guards involved in the incident of October 23rd. Second, we offer you six hundred thousand credits for each of your clients. Third, we offer you the option to pursue the matter in criminal court."

"Would we have to testify in open Court if we proceed with the criminal case?" Nova asked.

"You would, both you and Mrs. Savela," said Judge Asagami. "The women and man involved are up on another charge, though. They killed someone else in that same jail later that night in another beating. You two were lucky to escape with your lives."

Katrina looked panicked, until Karl whispered something to her, and then whispered to Nova. Finally, he said, "Your Honor, if they are being tried on manslaughter charges, we decline criminal charges so long as we receive our settlement funds within third days."

"You can receive them now," said Sayama. "They authorized me to write checks."

"Then, do we have an agreement?" said Asagami.

Forrester and Sayama talked back and forth for a moment, and their some papers went back and forth. Nova and Katrina signed, and then Sayama signed and handed them checks after he wrote them. Then, he said, "Are these proceedings closed, your Honor?"

Asagami nodded, and took the evidentiary file (including the pictures of Nova and Katrina, which were never even looked at in this session) and she thumbed a button on her desk. A female robot came in, and Asagami said, "Please see to it that this file is shredded. We came to a settlement."

"Yes, ma'am," said the robot.

Sayama then shook hands with Nova, Katrina, and then Derek and Foxy, and he said, "I am relieved this is over with."

"Just as I am," said Nova with a weak smile.

Later that same day, all of them sat eating dinner together in a restaurant. "Back to San Diego for us tomorrow," said Derek.

"I"ve been tellling you about our wedding plans," said Foxy. "For the second wedding."

"You'd like to have it at the Stella D'Oro Club?" said Nova. "That place is expensive. Like real expensive."

"We were talking about having our reception there years ago after we got married after defeating Zordar," said Derek. "But we thought we couldn't afford it."

"You forget who you speak with," said Katrina. "Foxy and I have so much together. With this little payment we received today, we can easily afford the Stella D'Oro Club," said Katrina. That particular country club, just north of the Tokyo Megalpolis, was one of the most five prestigious restaurants and banquet houses on the whole planet."

"So who do you plan to have at the wedding?" Derek said.

"I talked with Nova already; she will be Maid of Honor, if you do not mind," said Katrina.

"Matron of Honor since I'm married," said Nova. "But I don't mind," Nova said. She then thought to herself, Hopefully I can keep Katrina from going Bridezilla on us. Especially since this wedding seems like it will be way beyond even our pay grades. We won't have as much in the bank for a while as people think since we're buying our house in the Megalopolis from the Government and paying rent on the place in San Diego.

"My other bridesmaids," said Katrina. "Will be Michelle, your mother, and my friend Kristi Decker from the magazine, where I work," Katrina said.

"Planning already," Derek whispered to Nova.

"Derek, it's her perogative!" giggled back Nova in his ear. "Lighten up a little, damnit?"

"Let's see if we can keep her from getting a champagne fountain," said Derek.

"I want a champagne fountain!" cried Katrina. "Not like the one at Wendy and Homer's miserable affair, though."

"You mean you don't want a dog drinking from it," said Karl Forrester with a smile.

"Right," said Foxy. "We don't like dogs much."

"A nice dog can be kind of cute," Nova said.

"Caella's family did not have a nice dog," said Teri Forrester in a firm voice. "What became of that evil green Cometine monster, anyway?" said Teri, heedless of the fact that a Cometine Princess was sitting with them. Katrina made fists under the table as she knew what had happened and realized that the few free Cometines on Earth with the small diplomatic mission set up by Radnar would be looked at with greater suspicion in the years to come, partly because of Caella's boorishness, largely because of her own war. Katrina knew, of course, that there were Cometine prisoners of war held who had been captured near the end of the War who were still held under very high security on Earth who had not yet been repatriated back to Radnar's command. Katrina had heard rumors that a few of them were being horribly tortured by a Marine Intelligence Lieutenant named Gary Maples who had even interrogated her once, in the hospital. She did not like Maples much, but, of course, did not know that he was really the human host of the Dark Lord himself. Katrina had also been there to hear Maples interrogating Nova in the hospital (while she was half-dressed and feeding her son) and the treatment Nova had received had been one reason why Invidia had started to become more sympathetic towards Nova in the hospital room.

What Invidia did not know was that Maples already knew who she really was (thanks to the Infernal Monster who shared his head with him) but that the Dark Lord had prevailed upon Maples not to reveal Invidia's presence on Earth…for sick reasons of his own.

Also, she did not know that he was intending to crash her wedding…but none of this came to mind as she looked at Foxy and asked, "What about Groomsmen?"

"Mister Forrester here has agreed to be Best Man, since both Jane and I decided that Jane would look silly in a tux and heels."

"I beg your pardon?" Nova said. "I once wore a tux and heels to a wedding and I didn't look silly! When I was Venture's best man, Derek? Remember that?"

"I do," said Derek. "You looked cute like that."

"I'm sorry," whined Foxy. "I don't want a girl for a best man!"

"Good. I'm glad you didn't ask Homer," snapped Katrina. "I wonder how Wendy's baby got there? Artificial insemination?"

"Katrina, if you don't want to be nice," Nova snapped.

"Okay, I see. I did enough, and I am sorry," said Katrina. "All right. Homer is male then. We think."

"Who are the other groomsmen?" Teri asked as she thought, You horrible, horrible, horrible little person with the mouth? How did my daughter ever become your friend?

"Derek here, if he can get his awesome bod into a tux, his son Jonathan…" said Foxy.

"Good, Alexander is kind of small to be a groomsman right now," said Katrina.

"Dear," said Foxy. "Last of all, I was thinking of asking Nakajima-san," said the rich, eccentric attorney.

"Not him," groaned Teri.

"Why him?" asked Nova.

"What's the problem with this guy?" Derek asked.

"It was your fault I met him, Mother," said Nova.

"It wasn't my fault you two didn't get along on your first date," said Teri.

"It wasn't my fault he tried to put his hand up my skirt on the first date, Mother!" said Nova.

"Point him out to me so I can kick him over the balcony if he tries it again," said Derek.

"Then, there was what he did to Jane!" cried Teri.

"What did he try to do to Cousin Jane?" Nova asked.

"Since you are so high-strung, dear, I set them up while you were gallavanting off to Iscandar on the Argo," said Teri. "Jane and he were living in sin for a bit before she threw him out!"

"How did she throw him out?" said Derek.

"Same way she threw me out," said Foxy. "She shot at him a few times."

"Nova, if you ever die on me, remind me not to date your cousin Jane," said Derek.

"But Nakajima comes," said Foxy. "He's not that bad now."

"That is an issue for another day," said Nova. "I won't dance with him."

"Okay, we do not get you together with Nakajima-face," said Katrina. "We do that, we should have a good wedding. Now let me tell you about the color scheme I have planned…"

IV. REHEARSAL

Earth

Great Island

The Stella D'Oro Club

Thursday, December 10, 2207

2000 Hours Local Time

Invdia and Foxy's second wedding ceremony was set for Saturday, December 12, 2207, after a whirlwind of activity for her, which melded into the craziness Derek and Nova were going through in San Diego with their children, with Deke and Sasha (Sasha was a little moody because she was pregnant) with mostly Angie Hartcliffe (she occassionally let Bryan stay over, but more often than not, she threw him out to live in the BOQ) and with Dawn and Jefferson Hardy.

In fact, Dawn and Homer were the center of attention right now at the rehearsal for Foxy and Katrina's second wedding, not in a nice way, though, because Homer was teasing Dawn, who was now close to five months pregnant and showing a growing baby bump under her dress.

"You're getting fat," teased Homer.

"I am not fat!" yelled Dawn. "I'm pregnant, you brainless chowderhead! Go look at your own wife if you want an example of what a pregnant woman is!"

"Dawn, please stop yelling," said Nova, who was rocking Ariel on her knee as they sat down for a bit in the club's wedding chapel. This country club was so big that it had its own chapel on the premises. The chapel was already set up for a Buddhist wedding. Foxy knew the priest who would officiate as they redid their vows Buddhist-style.

The priest, who was named Goro Nagumi, was a bit amused at the antics of David and Aurora Forrester, who were going to again be the ringbearer and flower girl as they had been at Homer and Wendy's ceremony. However, the priest was not amused at Dawn, who was close to yelling like a fishwife as Homer teased her.

"You're really getting fat, Hardy. Sure it's not triplets?" teased Homer.

"No, it is TWINS!" yelled Dawn. "And I swear, all of you hate me! You were all doting over Nova, you are going ahh and ooo over Sasha over there, the brainless…"

"Are we starting this again?" demanded Sasha. "I thought we were friends now, Dawn!"

"Brainless Iscandarian!"

"Weirdo!" yelled Sasha.

"Freak!" yelled Dawn.

"Social reject!" yelled back Sasha. Homer came over, grinning, but Wendy grabbed his arm and said, "Homer, this is enough!"

"Teenager," huffed Dawn.

"High school kid!" yelled back Sasha as Deke and Jeff looked at the two women and decided that the two moody pregnant women had to be separated, and fast.

"ENOUGH!" yelled Katrina as she came over and swivelled on Homer. "You and Wendy, you two are to leave! You are no longer invited to this wedding!"

"I didn't do anything," said Homer.

"You set her off!" said Katrina. "Wendy, take him home. It is obvious he has been at the bar and is drunk!"

"He is not," said Wendy, who was starting to get moody herself.

"Please," Nova said. "Homer, you'd better go home. Wendy looks tired. I'll try to hash this out with Katrina later."

"You are still uninvited!" snapped Katrina.

"GOOD!" yelled Wendy. "We don't want to come to some alien weirdo's wedding, anyway! Homer, let's fly back to San Diego tonight."

At that, Wendy and Homer left. Katrina stormed off, slamming a door behind her as she cried.

"Proud of yourselves?" Nova snapped at Dawn and Sasha. "When Foxy and I calm her down, you two owe her apologies for causing a scene. You two will also apologize to each other. I had enough of you two fighting on the mission, and I don't need this coming back to haunt us again this weekend!"

"I'm sorry, Auntie," said Sasha as she bowed her head. "I just feel like…"

"Killing everyone lately?" Nova said.

Sasha nodded.

"It's the hormones," Nova said. "I've been there," she said as she soothed Ariel. Derek was holding Alex. Nova then looked at Dawn and said, "I'm not mad now. Stop moping."

"Everyone else is mad at me," Dawn said as Jeff hugged her. "Everyone hates me."

"No they don't," said Jeff.

"You hate me," sobbed Dawn.

"Like hell we do," said Jeff. Deke nodded at Sasha, who nodded back as Deke took her hands. "Dawn, we understand. No one here hates you."

"Execpt Bridezilla," snapped Dawn. "She hates all of us! She even made my mother cry before!"

"I'll get her to apologize," said Foxy. "I'll be back. Nova, stay out here with the others."

He left.

Lynn Westland looked at Jeff and said, "I know she's a handful."

"She's worse now than she ever was," he muttered. "What do I do?"

"I think she's in denial that she's going to have children," said Lynn. "She really needs to grow up."

"So do lots of othuh people around heah," said Jeff.

"Yeah, you're telling me," said Lynn.

V. RECEPTION

Earth

Great Island

The Stella D'Oro Club

Saturday, December 12, 2207

1300 Hours Local Time

Weather on Earth was strange this time of year thanks to the disturbances to the Gulf Stream and other weather patterns caused by the Comet Empire's attacks.

One day, it could be warm in the Northern Hemisphere.

The next day, it could be cold.

It was cold now, and snowing slightly, as Christmas decorations illuminated the elaborate lobby of the Stella D'Oro Club as wedding guests milled into the huge chapel to await Katrina and Foxy's second ceremony.

"I hope she didn't change her mind," huffed Teri Forrester as she stood near her daughter Nova near the front of the chapel while Nova worked on helping the Buddhist priest and his monk associate arrange what would be needed on the cypress ceremonial altar for the wedding. Nova and Teri were in dark wine-red gowns with black trim and black open-toe pumps on.

"I know she's coming because that's all she's been talking about," said Michelle, who was dressed in a gown like Teri's and Nova's. "She and Dad have been setting up so much. They won't be at the Manor this weekend."

"So where are they going?" said Kristi Decker, the pretty, dark-haired young lady who was Katrina's work associate.

"The Hotel Imperial Princess, Penthouse Suite," Nova said. "I was there once, with Derek, for one night. Very expensive. Very nice."

"We weren't in the Penthouse Suite," corrected Derek as he came up in in a black tux trimmed in dark red. "We were in the Ambassador's Suite. I couldn't afford the Penthouse Suite that weekend."

"And what were you two trying then?" said Kristi.

"It was when we were trying to conceive," Nova said. "We thought a change of scenery would work. It didn't. But it was nice."

Karl Forrester came up, kissed Teri, and said, "Derek, Nova, the babies are sleeping in the nursery up on the second floor. The nurse there says they have the milk you brought."

"Thanks," said Nova with a blush. "Where are they?"

"Maybe they won't come, maybe they won't come!" sang Aurora Forrester as she skipped along. "Auntie Katrina is funny, funny, funny!"

"If Auntie Katrina hears you, she'll get very upset," Nova said to her little sister. Nova then turned around to notice Jonathan sitting in a corner with his girlfriend Felicia Carmody, giggling over some private joke. Frank Carmody was there, but Marina was tucking her little ones into the upstairs nursery along with Alex and Ariel.

In the meantime, IQ-9 scooted up. "Nova!" he said. "Ever hear the limerick about the nasty old man from Nantucket?"

"Not in front of the children," said Nova.

"I wanna hear it," said Jonathan.

"Jonathan, you are not hanging out with Tinwit!" Nova yelled. "And you two had better not have some scheme set up for my dress to flip up today!"

"He doesn't have one, Mrs. Wildstar, promise," said Felicia as she swung her sandaled feet back and forth under her gown.

"Nova, lighten up," said Derek. "Let him have some fun," he whispered in her ear.

"Start your engines, I hear cars!" yelled Daisuke Nakajima, Nova's long-time ex and Foxy's associate.

Foxy ran into the room a minute later in an all-black tux trimmed with only a white tie and short and a dark red rose on a lapel. He clapped his hands for the fifty guests, and said, "I'm sorry, people. I'm recently bereaved so the wedding is cancelled! I lost Katrina down the bathtub drain this morning! She refused to get out of the tub and she melted! You can all go home!"

"Foxy, you're nuts," said Jane Forrester as she came up in a flaming red gown and playfully hit her ex on the shoulder. "You wouldn't be dancing around if she was really dead."

"I'm nervous," he said.

"Why?" said Nova.

"She may not go through with this. She may leave me at the altar! What is taking her so long?"

"You guys are already married," whispered Nova. "Remember? Did you see her in her dress?"

"No."

"Good. It'd be bad luck," Teri said.

Nova ran off for a moment after looking at the clock. Eager showed up a moment later with his fiancee' Lisa, followed by Sandor and Diane Henson.

"Where are they?" said Sandor.

"Nova's getting her ready. I think," said Derek as Nova whistled to Michelle and Kristi. A moment later, a dark-looking man in black shades showed up. He smirked at Wildstar. Wildstar didn't like the way he looked, but was forced to admit to himself that, somehow, Lieutenant Gary Maples had gotten an invitation to the wedding, which he was handing to Karl Forrester right now. Karl took it, not knowing that he had just taken an invitation from the Lord Ekogaru himself…the very being who would cause his sudden death exactly twenty-four years later at the pinnacle of his life and professional career in his seventies. Ekogaru smiled, foreseeing the future that he would cause and Karl's role in it.

Finally, Nova, Michelle, and Kristi came out while Karl Forrester disappeared. Derek went and spoke with the priest, and then, he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please take your places. We are about to begin shortly. We are here today to witness the joy of Kazuo Foxworth-Savela and Katrina Foxworth-Savela re-enacting their wedding vows. Please be seated!"

Everyone sat down as the bridal partry disappeared.

The Buddhist priest and his acolye stood before the altar in their vestments, waiting as Bach's Fantasia in D Minor was played on a grand piano in the room-decorated in dark red and black. The windows were open, and everyone could see the snow outside as, first, Jonathan and Michelle came down the aisle hand-in-hand, followed by little David Forrester, who bore the rings and a Buddhist rosary on a cushion. Next, there came Daisuke Nakajima, who walked uneasily with Teri Forrester.

As each bridesmaid and and groomsman came up, they lit a candle near the altar. Next, Kristi Decker and Derek Wildstar came up together, lit candles, and waited as, behind them, Foxy was escorted up the aisle by Nova, who looked very pleased after she lit her candle and stood near Derek.

Foxy waited as Aurora Forrester scattered some dark red rose petals, and then the room went silent as the last two members of the wedding party appeared.

The best man, Karl Forrester, came up in a black tux, wearing a red-lined black opera cape over his tux in a style with a clasp that only the bride knew represented her dead father, Prince Zordar. Since the father was not present, the Best Man had to give the bride away at this wedding.

Katrina was the last figure.

She was in a gown that was all pure dark wine-red, a slightly darker shade than that of the somber but elegant gowns of the bridesmaids. She wore a dark black veil over her purple hair, and black silken open-toe slippers.

She glanced back, smiling slightly as two Cometine officers from the Mission came in, standing in silence near the door near some Pellian troopers in a gesture of peace and respect of the Armistice. They would leave quickly; they were all there at Invidia's quiet request.

However, with the Cometine officers, there was a third figure that Invidia did not quite recognize. He was clad all in a black uniform trimmed in white like that of an ordinary trooper, but in a pattern Invidia recognized as that of the Imperial Guard. The face and hair of the tall figure were completely hidden by a shiny black pilots' helmet and breath mask; like the sort worn by long-range Scorpion boat pilots.

Invidia went silent as she and Foxy held hands, and she wondered to herself, What is an agent from the Grand Throne from Andromeda doing here? The Earthlings have no idea what that uniform means, but that is the uniform of a Prince of the Realm elevated to Imperial Guard status as part of the Emperor's Guard. What is a Concillor of the Grand Emperor doing at my wedding? And why? They usually only leave Great Andromeda…to execute people. Am I going to be assassinated?

The dark thoughts were driven from Katrina's mind when Foxy took her hand. The pianist went silent as she and Foxy knelt before the altar.

The room went silent while the priest recited sutras in Japanese while the groomsmen and bridesmaids flanked Foxy and Katrina.

Then, Foxy led Katrina in a vow to the Buddha that he had taught her. It was in Japanese, and it was a vow of fidelity and everlasting love.

After an offering of incense to the Buddha, they received some water ritually purified by the priest.

After that, they drank some sacred sake' in small cups, in the san-san-kudo pledge, (three times three equalling nine sips).

Katrina smiled at Foxy in the candlelight as David brought up their rings.

Foxy took the ring for Katrina and said, again, "Katrina, with this ring, before our friends and associates, I thee wed. For richer or poorer, and in sickness and in health, I will stand by you."

Then, the priest said, "Do you take Katrina as thy wedded?"

"I do," said Foxy as he slid the ring on Katrina's finger.

Then, Katrina took her ring, and said, "Kazuo, with this ring, before our friends and associates, I thee wed. For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I will stand by you. Thank you…thank you, for taking me into your protection and for accepting me onto Earth."

"Therefore, by the power vested in me," said the priest. "Confirming the emergency words of Commodore Wildstar back in October, before the world, I do pronounce thee as husband and wife. Kazuo-san, you may now kiss Katrina-chan. These ceremonies are concluded, and may Buddha bless thee."

Foxy smiled at Katrina, winked at him, and waited as he raised her veil and then he took her in his arms and kissed her as everyone applauded.

"I can't wait to dance with you again in an hour or so," said Foxy.

"I cannot wait for the wedding night," said Katrina as she and Foxy left the room hand in hand, their marriage solemnized in the open now before the world.

As they walked past Maples, he looked down at the floor, making silent fists behind his back as he thought, I had no chance to disrupt this. Damn you, damn you, damn you!

For a moment, the Dark Lord thought of simply killing Invidia where she stood. He could have easily done it. But, then, he thought. No. She could still be useful to Me in the future.

How? As an agent of Chaos.

Ekogaru shook his head, shivering a little at the black, hidden aura around the tall man in black who walked out with the Cometine officers.

Only the Dark Lord could see the woman in the blue dress walking behind him, walking quietly on bare feet as her blond hair blew in the warmth of the heating system.

Trelaina! Ekogaru thought. What are you doing here?

But before the Dark One could look again, she was gone, along with the tall man in black.

The reception took up most of the main hall of the country club.

Security was everywhere, watching quietly as Commanding General Singleton danced with the new bride right after Foxy, Karl, and Derek had done so.

The Security forces noticed as Nova Wildstar, forced by custom to dance with Daisuke Nakajima, ended their dance by slapping him in the face (it appeared he had been too ready to put his hand on the Matron of Honor's shapely bottom in her gown; he had also stepped on her toes twice). Nakajima was quietly escorted out as they watched the black-clad man coming up to Katrina to talk with her.

Katrina was shocked at the appearance of the man in black, with Kazuo away for the moment to get some champagne. Katrina reached for a steak knife from one of the large, elegantly-set tables, but the man said, in a deep, muffled voice from inside his mask. "You need not fear. I am here only to talk with you."

"To talk?" hissed Katrina.

The man nodded. "I would share a dance with you…Princess," he said in a low, deep voice.

"You know?" Katrina whispered.

The man nodded.

"Who are you?" whispered Katrina.

"It has been a long time," he said in a low, deep voice that sounded a little like Ekogaru's, but was somehow gentler. "This is not the first time I have seen Earth, and this is not the first time I breathed its air," he said in a very low voice as he danced Katrina to a dark, lonely corner of the room as Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C Minor played in the background on an electronic harpsichord. "Over six Earth years ago. When we were in the Easterm Sea, Princess, on the first City on that open balcony on the Palace. Do you remember? When we looked at the Moon burning in the sky before the day they were to surrender?"

"No one would know that," whispered Katrina harshly. "It was only my father and I who were there! And he is dead! Trelaina killed him!"

"Who is to say I died? I thought I had. Trelaina had other plans. She had other means. She had other aims."

Katrina's mouth fell open. Fantasia in D Minor began to play again on a piano.

"Say nothing, Princess Invidia," whispered the man in a voice no one heard but the two of them. "This is not the place for reunions, Daughter. But, I live. Through hell's back door I come. But I live."

"You…hated…me" Invidia sobbed.

"I was angry," Zordar whispered. "But those were difficult times. We must band together again. The Local Group faces difficult times. Both our galaxies are threatened. What is in the Blackeye Galaxy is far worse than anyone on Earth knows. And his forces are far, far from dead. I come here to begin to make amends by telling you that you are protected."

"You were not sent to slay me?"

"no," Zordar whispered. He looked back himself. He gritted his teeth in his helmet as he realized that Maples had gone. "I was here to kill a man. I meant to kill him today with my bare hands before he suspected. I wanted to capture and then slay one Earthling. Just one. But he has left us. But we are watching him."

"Why?"

"For the good of all of us, believe it or not. And that is why I came, too. Can a man miss his daughter's wedding? For anything? No. Especially since the Grand Emperor is dying in Andromeda. Even as we speak. And his named Successor is about to be anointed."

"Please stay," whispered Katrina. "You can come to the hotel with Foxy and I…we…"

"No. I cannot. But, someday, we shall meet again," said Zordar. "Trelaina tells me it will be far, far away from here."

"Trelaina?"

"Why do you think I am here?" whispered the man in black. "Tell no one," said Zordar. "Not even Foxy."

And, at that, as mysteriously as he came, Invidia's Father swept out of her life again.

But, she knew beyond all hope that he had lived.

He was alive.

And he cared.

But what was going to happen to Earth? The Milky Way?

The Andromeda Galaxy?

Were they all threatened?

VI. A NIGHT ON RED SILK

Earth

Great Island

The Tokyo Megalopolis

The Hotel Imperial Princess: Penthouse Suite

Saturday, December 12, 2207

2358 Hours Local Time

At last, Foxy and Katrina were all alone.

"Our second wedding night," he whispered as he carried Katrina into the darkened Bridal Suite of the Penthouse of the magnificent 78-story high hotel near the center of the Tokyo Megalopolis.

Foxy swept his hand before a sensor, and dim lights came up.

Katrina smiled silently as she beheld a room all in red and black.

Red curtains over windows looking out onto the night.

A dark crystalline ceiling with hidden lighting fixtures.

A deep burgundy carpet.

A huge bed, covered in dark red silken sheets, pillows, and comforter. Foxy put Katrina on the bed, took off her pumps, and smiled as she wiggled her toes in the carpet.

A small chime went off. It was midnight of the next day.

Foxy shrugged off his coat, and undid his suspenders.

"To us," he said as he opened the champagne bottle. It fizzed all over them. Katrina screamed, and then laughed as she made the Change again to Invidia. She put on her Royal Pin after Foxy locked the door, and she adjusted her widows' peak.

"I met a visitor today from Great Andromeda at the wedding reception," said Invidia.

"Who was he?" said Foxy.

Invidia lowered her eyes. "I wish I could tell you. He wants his identity…his existence…kept secret. But he told me that…he…HE…"

"Not him?" said Foxy.

"No, he means us no harm," said Invidia. "But, he says our joint Enemy is after both Earth and Andromeda. I wanted to dominate Earth someday…but…"

"But what?"

"What if we all have to fight together against HIM as allies? Allies?"

"Is that what troubles you?"

Invidia nodded. "And…I cannot tell you. I am sorry."

"Why not?"

"He swore me to secrecy. Probably for good reason. What are you doing?"

Foxy picked up one of Katrina's shoes. "I mean to drink from your slipper."

"How silly!" laughed Invidia.

"I said I would." He began to drank, but some champagne dribbled out of the open toe of the shoe onto his face.

Invidia laughed hard. Then, she hugged Foxy.

She began the attack this time, pulling off his clothes with little preamble. He reciprocated with hers.

They were both naked within three minutes, rolling and kissing and loving on the silken sheets as the room lights went down and the city shone and glittered below them like beautiful stars in the night.

Invidia and Foxy said little…they were just kissing and breathing heavily as their lips joined, and then their mouths ran all over their bodies.

Invidia felt hot, sexy, and her heart was beating hard as Foxy became sweaty, hot, and then melted into her like hot chocolate as it began to snow outside.

The snow fell in the city as Foxy continued to fall on his Princess.

Soon, she was writhing, gasping, moaning, and calling his name again and again and again as she exploded around him in a burst of pleasure, and he exploded into her.

Finally, they were sobbing, they were laughing, they were happy.

"I love, you, my Princess," whispered Foxy.

Invidia began to cry harder. "I love you, too!" said Invidia. "You do not know how much I love you!"

"I have some idea," he whispered.

"Do you?" she said.

And, then, at that, they began to make happy, urgent, passionate love again.

All through the night.

In the meantime, over Earth, Zordar, who was for now, an unaffiliated Prince of the Realm, stood in silence with his helmet with a green scanning eyepiece on off in high orbit on the bridge of a Cometine destroyer being escorted slowly out of Earth's territorial space by two EDF destroyers. It was a routine prisoner exchange; a few Terran prisoners of war had been exchanged for Cometine POW's, who were now on this ship, on the way back to Andromeda.

He sat down in the command seat, confident that his life would change…in just a few minutes.

Back from Death, he thought. Although I was never really dead. I was sent to a Void by Trelaina. Trelaina made me believe I was in eternal torment. I was on the doorway between death and life, she said. Then, she let me return, at last. I came back to corporeal existence just as my daughter's final scheme imploded. Then, I was held prisoner, until I made our generals aware of who I was. And of my connection to Varnax. Then, they listened. Then, I was again respected….then, I began again to live.

No one else on Earth (save for Ekogaru and Invidia) knew of the returned Zordar's presence over the planet. Nor did they know of the true significance of a small ceremony expected to take place in the ship.

The comm officer turned to Zordar and said, "Lord, he is gone. Emperor Varnax is dead."

"So," said Zordar. "Lights down to emergency in respect for the Emperor," he said as he removed his eyepiece. "The Emperor is dead. He had a long life."

The lights went down, and the crewmembers and officers on the bridge knelt. One waited with a small cruise of oil.

Another transmisson came in a moment later. "Great Andromeda's Court Committee recognizes thine Accession, Lord."

Zordar knelt and bowed his head as an officer put a little bit of oil in his white hair and rubbed a little on his bald pates above his eyebrows.

Then, he stood. He looked much different now as the comm officer bowed and said, "Lord, Great Andromeda recognizes this bridge as the seat of the Grand Throne until our return."

"The Emperor is dead," intoned Zordar.

The crew came to attention, saluted, and turned to Zordar saying, "LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!"

An officer gave the new Emperor of the Greater Cometine Empire and of all of the Houses all of the books and command codes. "My Lord, whom do Thee select as Viceroy to speak for you?"

"Tell them no one, " said Emperor Zordar, who sounded as powerful and arrogant as he had not been in over six years. "I break the seclusion of Arishna's Throne. I speak for myself! I have been readmitted to life in the past few weeks for a Reason."

"Lord?"" said one of the officers, a Leftenant Vergas. "What of the Armistice?"

"It holds. For now. It may be even more convenient as a legal basis to force this planet to do our bidding in the future," said Zordar. "For now, Radnar and Desslok retain their positions. Desslok is not to learn that I live, yet, nor that I make him now a Provisional Prince over Gatlantis. He will be an ally, though. Like it or not. He will have to be when this Dark Lord whom I was about to kill comes for his head. That is if we do not kill him first."

"Provisional?" said Vergas. "Why?"

"I have a daughter," said Zordar. "She cannot be forgotten. She must, though, be controlled."

And, at that, Zordar nodded at Earth and began to allow his ship to prepare to warp for home.

It is a beautiful world, he thought. Someday, I shall be back. And you will all kiss my boots in gratitude, you fools!

VII. A MOST UNUSUAL MEETING

Earth

Great Island

The Tokyo Megalopolis

Derek and Nova Wildstar's Home

Thursday, January 31, 2207

2342 Hours Local Time

Nova Wildstar had just put Alex and Ariel to bed; having to give only a little of her breasts in the festive dark green party dress she wore in her house.

With that done, before going back out to meet Derek and the others again, she sat in their bedroom, and remembered the past year in a bittersweet, quiet fashion as she paged through a photo album.

"So much has happened to us the past year," she said to herself. "My being asleep at the beginning. Waking up in the Spring. The assassination attempts in Russia. Going back out on the Argo. Rescuing Iscandar and Gamilon in a horrible fight. Nearly having the Argo destroyed and seeing Desslok captured. Having Deke and Dawn lost. Having everyone meet up again and reconcile. Being hurt and seeing Sasha captured. Being utterly shocked when Desslok and Sasha came back on their own to us days later. Chasing down that Comet City ship. The battles to save the Solar System. Having Alex and Ariel right after the battle. Seeing Wendy and Homer falling for each other, along with Foxy and Katrina. Adopting Jonathan," said Nova as she kicked her bare feet slowly as she spoke. "Seeing everyone get married. Hartcliffe's first trial. Seeing Sasha and Dawn beginning to show with their pregnancies. What a year! I wonder what is going to happen next…"

Then, Nova felt a sudden dank, familiar, threatening cold as a dark form began to appear…right in her bedroom when she was alone. She gasped, and went right for a crucifix when she saw who and what it was.

"I have told you before," Nova said as she held up the cross. "Ekogaru…you are not wanted here on Earth. Nor in my house. Get out!"

"You mistake me," said that slow, dragging voice. "I am not here tonight to harm you or anyone. I am here to talk."

"To talk," said Nova. "What would I want to talk about with a ghost over three thousand years old who nearly destroyed Earth twice; once on your own, and the second time over, using Invidia as your cats' paw? What do we have to discuss with the likes of you? I know what you are. I have no concord with Belial or his servants. Get out."

"You say you know what I am. I have masters that I am responsible to, as well. I am here in what you might call a peace mission. I am here to ask your advice."

"My…advice?" said Nova. "Sure. You are some kind of ghost from the Pit, the deepest part of space, from what we can figure out. I am a rather healthy young mortal with New Years' guests to tend to. How can I advise you?"

"I ask you…is it worth it to go on living?"

"Living," said Nova. "You're some kind of living dead thing, and you ask me whether or not it is worth it to go on living? What is living for you? Conquering worlds? Sucking up peoples' souls? Driving them insane? Using people?"

"For me, when I lost my body, living became an exercise in horror. Living became an exercise to try to get my body back. You would not believe it, but I envy you because you are so alive and happy. I drag myself on minute after minute. Hour after hour. I have a new host that I possess…"

"Who is it?" Nova snapped.

"No one terribly close to you. I cannot do much. For now. I am very tired. I drained so much of the energy that I was in fighting you that I barely exist anymore. I drained the life-energy of Michael Stovall from him like a husk in a bit less than three years. My new host is even weaker. I need a body and I mean to get a new one someday."

"You can't have this one," Nova snapped as she patted her chest. "It's taken. And even though I've been through so much already, I'm not even thirty yet. I have a long life to live. More children to have. A husband to love. A medical career that begins anew for me next year when I begin Medical School. It is time for Earth to live and grow and reach out to the Universe, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. There are many wounds to heal. And so many of them are your fault, Ekogaru. So many of them. Can't you die? Can't you leave us alone?"

"No," said the Dark One. "I cannot. But I will tell you this," he said.

"What?"

"The Comet Empire and its ambitions are not yet dead. Nor are mine. We were to rule together. They have a new Emperor now. We are bound to clash, and they want to come back. Join with me, Nova. Join the winning side."

"I can't," Nova said. "I will not."

"Suit yourself," said Ekogaru. "See how much your friends care about you in the years to come."

At that, Ekogaru left.

"What was that about?" Derek said as he came into the room.

"Nothing I want to discuss now, Derek. I'm sorry. Let's go downstairs."

Derek kissed his wife and he went downstairs with her, smiling as Deke, Sasha, Dawn, Hardy, Brew, Bangs, and many of their other friends counted down towards the New Year as 2207 became 2208.

Then, the New Years' Bells began to ring across the planet.

The old year was gone.

War was over.

The Earth was at peace.

For now….

AND LIFE GOES ON FOR THE STAR FORCE, THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR ENEMIES

In the Year 2208, Planet Earth was Finally at Peace.

THE END

Begun: March 2003

Finished: February 2009