Dramatis Personae:
Narrator
Warrior 1 from one galaxy, Candy
Warrior 2 from another galaxy, Ed
Total populations of both Galaxies, Chorus
The GODS

SCENE 1

CHORUS:

Viewed up from the ground of the deserted combat arena, is deep, dark, infinite, star speckled space. A far distant star blinks, fades, and becomes an all consuming supernova.

NARRATOR (golf tournament announcer hushed voice):

"We're on a barren, dimly lit planet, where the combat between the champions of two galaxies takes place. Two intergalactic spacecraft are parked at the end of the combatant field. The lights from the craft illuminate the field. Visual and sound monitors are placed on, above and at ground level so all can witness the gore.

We're in the final stages of the combat. The heroine from one galaxy, a huge bipedal female, known as Candy, has her laser sword placed on the main vein of her opponent's neck. It's a four legged creature with a human torso named Ed. Candy is straddling Ed and threatens to cut the vein in his neck and thereby win. Her galaxy will now claim the mineral rights to a solar system of their choice. She will be the new heroine.

New contestants from these two galaxies will be chosen to do the same, next year. Those who rise to the top of the combatant contests are well rewarded for the rest of their lives. They will be anointed by THE GODS. It has been done for millennia. They also receive lucrative commercial endorsements

SCENE 2

The two combatants loom larger than life, their action projected on a massive screen within a darkened amphitheater. The observing Gods are shadows. Their deeply besotted voices can plainly be heard:

God #1 "Hey, that satyr, and that girl, haven't we seen these two before?"

God #2, "No that was two whatchyamacallits going at it tooth-to-tooth, hic. This is a human type against a satyr type or some such beastie."

God#1. "I'm tired of all his. What's it been, 3 or 4 millennia now that we've had these idiots killing each other for our enjoyment? I say screw it, let's end the games, and be gone."

God#2. "And do what for entertainment then? We're eternal. Boredom comes quickly. They're easy to manipulate. It's so much fun."

God #1, "Not sure, but to hell with this, and them. I'm done. They're on their own. Let's go find a goddess or two to make a few new worlds."

God #2 "Right. THEY'RE on their own.

BOTH:

DECLARED! WE WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE FOOLS, ALWAYS KILLING EACH OTHER. They may now do as they please."

SCENE 3

The combat scene:

Ed's sword is on the ground, smoking from a blast of Candy's laser.

"Hey Ed, said Candy, "you get the feeling that all this is stupid and a waste of life?" The blade is still on the vein and her finger is on the trigger just in case it's not a clean kill.

"Yeah, but we've always done it. Our people are counting on us," retorted Ed. He has no bad feelings, this is a job. Someone has to win and someone has to loose. That's life, and death. He never gave it deep thought.

Candy responds. She pulls the sword away from the satyr's neck, "Well maybe we can stop this idiocy, and work together." She is beginning to enjoy riding Ed. She's not sure she wants to take his life.

Ed of course wanted to live. He looks back as his assailant and thinks, she's' right pretty for a biped. He said, "Listen, if we stop, will the others stop too?"

Candy holds her sword straight up away from Ed. She sheathes it and said, "I don't know. There is only one way to find out." And she declares for all to hear and witness, "I will not take your life."

Ed said, "I appreciate that. Let's declare this stupid combat over and leave."

The Chorus speaks as one:

"Meanwhile we, both galaxies, are in a panic. We have all their hopes and economies invested in these games Ordained by the Gods.

We have been abandoned.

And now two combatants have decided to just end it, stop and be friends? That's insane."

HOWEVER

"As the idea spreads thought the two galaxies the concept of peace catches on. The populations like it. We collectively declare, 'screw the GODS we don't need them to dictate to us. We have free will."

The Combatant Field:

The two combatants who have been at hoof-to-toe combat have grown very fond of each other. Candy looks at Ed and said, "You want to get away from here. I know a planet that will give as a home. I bet we can even become popular on their media. I'm sure of it. They have good grog too."

Ed looks at her like she's nuts. "Right…a seven foot female warrior, and a talking man-horse; what are you going to call it, 'Candy and Her Talking Satyr'?"

Candy said, "Not sure but that's a good idea. Come on, remember, before we started combat, I told you about that solar system I found in a backwater section of our galaxy, the one I found some time ago?"

Ed said, "The one WE were going to take if I won. The planet where they all kill each other for nothing?"

"That's the place. We'll fit right in."

Ed said, "I'm with you. Flying's better than dying."

Candy gave him a hug and a kiss. She said. "All this fighting made me appreciate and respect you. Your weapon?"

I can get used to this, he though, smiling, and he pinched her butt. "Nah," he said, pointing to the still smoking weapon. "I have more on the ship."

They took Ed's ship. It fit him. They lift off, engaging the C++ drive.

CHORUS:

They fly off. The light of a supernova in some other galaxy far, far away illuminates the ship just before it jumps.

"Gentlemen," the major said, " — and ladies… as I'm sure you've heard, the Hinjee are in control of Neptune and are now gathering their forces for an attack on our bases around Saturn. They've made it clear they intend to completely annihilate the human race.

"Our strategists and intelligence experts have determined that if they can be stopped before they get to Jupiter, they'll abandon their objective and retreat from our solar system.

"What this means is that the wormfaces will be putting everything they have into this next engagement, and we have to do the same.

"You of the 501st Squadron will spearhead the attack, joined by the 55th, the 72nd, and the 112th, out of Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto, respectively, and we'll be engaging the Hinges at their first target, Dione, where we've learned they plan to establish a base. Comment, Hickson?"

"Sir, can this be done? Our fighters are no match for theirs… "

"We're being re-equipped. Professor Argent will explain. Professor — "

"Thank you, Major." Paul Argent stepped to the front, bushy eyebrows and mustache peppered with gray, but very sharp-eyed. His daughter, Julie, smiled at me from a few seats across, and I had to smile back. Red hair, green eyes, and a figure that would make the Venus de Milo jealous, even in her flight-suit. We hadn't announced our engagement yet, but everyone was expecting it. We'd both been trying to squelch the rumor that we'd been rehearsing for our honeymoon.

The professor cleared his throat, and we returned our attention to him. "The rumors that we have captured a Hinjee fighter are true, and we've studied it in secrecy. This — " he clicked on the display screen, " — is our reply; official designation F-37, but I like to call it the Angry Bird."

The room erupted in soft whistles and wordless exclamations. It had grace and beauty uncharacteristic of most fighting craft — but the landing gear —

"Sir, are those feet for real?"

"Indeed. Articulated, and controlled by stirrups — in fact, they're the only foot-controlled part of the craft." They modeled the feet of a bird of prey, talons and all.

In the back, Wild Bill said, "God, I'm gettin' a stiffie… "

The professor grinned. "Just wait 'till you fly it. You'll have to learn a new control interface, but it's faster and more maneuverable than the Hinjee craft, and more intuitive. The shielding is quite robust. Armament is a pair of rail-guns on the fuselage. You'll learn the rest soon. Major — "

The major nodded and faced us. "Now listen up — simulators are ready and waiting, but we meet the Hinjee in two weeks, so this'll be intense. Captain — "

I stood and turned to face the room. "Squadron!"

They all shot to their feet, "Sir!"

"Who are we?"

"We're the Five-Oh-One!"

"And what do we do?"

"We get it done!"

"Fall out!"

They double-timed out, and I began to follow, but Professor Argent stopped me. "Jack — "

"Sir — uh, Paul — ?"

"You'll — bring Julie back safe, won't you… ?"

"I will."

"Move, move, move!" I shouted, running with the rest of the squadron. I was about to climb into my Bird when Julie grabbed my sleeve; I turned and she gave me a good-luck kiss. I didn't want to stop, but then she whispered in my ear and dashed without waiting for my reaction. "Oh my god… " I had to shake myself.

Out and away, we formed up with the other squadrons. The Hinges weren't ready for the Angry Birds, but they weren't giving up, either. I was distracted, covering Julie and constantly adjusting to the glare of Dione, and of Saturn beyond it, when a Hinjee fighter got in among us —

— and hit Julie's Bird. I saw it rock, her right wing blasted, her falling, and then, the wormface did a victory roll. I roared and went after him, fired a burst, and my ROUNDS REMAINING indicator hit zero. I kept following him anyway.

Control's voice in my 'phones: "Jack! Jack, get back to base, you're guns are dry!"

"Julie's hit!" I yelled, "I'm going after her — "

"We'll send a rescue, now get back — "

"Not yet — !"

"Jack, that's an order — "

"Sorry, Control, I didn't hear that — " I killed the comm. "And I've got a squeaky Hinge to grease, too… "

I overtook the Hinjee, matched speed inches above his cockpit; saw his surprised look in my landing-gear camera just as I stomped down into the stirrups. The titanium talons crashed through his canopy and I pulled away, letting him fall. "That's for Julie!"

I spotted Julie's Bird headed for Dione's cratered surface, switched the comm back on. "Julie!"

"Jack — I don't have much control… "

"Can you land?"

"Yes… "

"I'm right next to you — get ready to bail the instant you stop… "

The major glowered across his desk at me. "Dammit, Speer, you disobeyed a direct order… would you like to explain to me why you shouldn't be in the brig awaiting court-martial?"

I stared at the wall. "Sir, you can't do that… sir… "

"And just why the hell not?!"

"Sir, I — need to get married — sir — "

"You — what?!"

"I need to get married, sir… to Lieutenant Argent… "

The major blinked and huffed out his breath. "Son of a… " He opened his desk drawer and passed me a flat black box. "Then I guess I'll just have to give you this instead. Wear it at your wedding."

It was a Medal of Valor.

"Prrrrrrrincccce!"

"Rrrrrrrrrrinnn!"

The guttural croaking of Rin's name echoed in the corridor. One voice was coming from the ship's galley; the other was coming from the ship's hold. The barking grated on the Prince, and the Helodermanoids knew it.

The one from the hold came out with another box for Rin to take to the galley. The alien croaked the Prince's name once more, and then let his wide, black-scaled mouth gape so that his purple tongue could lick the air. The lizardlings were hardly threatening. They were barely four feet tall and wore only loincloths and tool belts with the clanging wrenches of ship mechanics. But their beady black eyes held no warm-bloodedness and Rin couldn't help but feel lower on the food chain in their presence.

"Get prepared to jump." Captain S'alla's voice came from the far end of the corridor. Rin spun around awkwardly, almost losing his balance while holding the heavy box of supplies. The captain stood in the doorway, her gray skin still wet from a shower, wearing only a robe that was casually tied at her waist. Rin immediately blushed and averted his eyes, as any civilized man of his world would.

"What must I do to prepare?" he stuttered. He looked for one of the Helodermanoids to hand the box off to and finally decided to just set it down.

"Stow your clothes and gear in a locker in the crew quarters. Then take a shower if you expect to share a gel-bed with me. The lizardlings can finish here."

"Is there, uh… must we… is it safe to share a gel-bed during a jump?" Rin stole a glance at her and thought he saw the hint of a smile on the captain's harsh face.

"This isn't a cruise ship. There are only two jump beds on board. You can either bunk with me… or the lizardlings." She walked forward and letting the belt of her robe fall to her sides, she pressed her body against his.

"Captain S'alla! Please. I paid for you to transport me across Zealot space and I thought…"

"You gave me what you claim is some jewelry of the Royal House of Keth that I will no doubt have a very… hard time… fencing." She was now close enough to whisper in his ear. "I can assure you that the jump will be much more pleasurable in my bed."

Despite being of a different species, with a wide head and eyes set very far apart and framed by bony protrusions, she had the typical humanoid symmetry that gave her an exotic, if alien, beauty. And, like most humanoid offshoots, Rin suspected from what he could now see that she probably had compatible female parts. But the purpose of his quest immediately came to mind, his betrothed, Artora of House Q'ardent. The thought of that innocent girl suffering because of his family's political intrigues, kidnapped and whisked across known space, fired his rage, and bolstered his weakening resolve against the captain's advances. Only ingrained civility kept his royal wrath in check.

"Really Captain, this is… unacceptable. I am a Prince of Keth."

The captain backed away, but her eyes smoldered. "Have you noticed the transparent tubes that line the hull of this ship?" She asked.

"The ones containing a sparkling gas?" Rin asked.

"That 'sparkling gas' is our navigator… a native of the Challek Nebula. Zealot ships use teams of mutants or advanced AIs to safely jump. Our navigator does it all by instinct. And his services don't come cheap. Prior to a jump I have to spend a couple of hours… interfacing… with that noxious cloud. He's currently preoccupied with the biological mechanisms behind humanoid pain and pleasure. Let's just say that the experience leaves me… unfulfilled. But we do what we must, hmm? So get ready to jump, and prepare to earn your berth, or I'll leave you floating in space with the trash." She marched off.

"This is unacceptable, my Prince." The voice in Rin's ear had a condescending metallic ring.

"Servant," Rin whispered. "This is not the time." He headed to the crew quarters and began undressing.

"But master, you would sully yourself with such servitude? You are a Prince of Keth. If you but wish, I could release a cloud of nanites and the captain would be…"

"No, servant. You must remain a secret if you are to help me. Besides, who would pilot the ship?"

"Master, I vaguely remember, a long time ago…"

"Be silent now, so I can think." Rin did not attempt to hide his annoyance and then realized he was speaking too loudly. He looked to the simple silver ring on his finger, his father's ring, one of six held by the rulers of the Houses of Keth, each containing a powerful AI. Rin had learned from an early age that the servant of the ring could be very helpful, whispering the answers to the tutors' questions in Rin's ear. The rings had a fabled history, but one thing Rin was sure of; none of the rings had ever been off of Keth, until now. The nanites in his ear were silent. In her way the captain was right. If he was going to save Artora he was going to have to be prepared to do whatever was necessary. He removed the ring and then placed it in the pocket of his shirt, before closing the locker door.

The captain looked pleased when he entered her cabin. Everything was aglow with the soft blue light of the gel-bed. S'alla was already half submerged.

"Come, my prince, we have some time before we've accelerated to the speed of jump." Rin stepped forward.

Back in the crew quarters the two Helodermanoids squatted on the floor and rifled through the pilfered contents of Rin's locker. One held its clawed hand up to the cabin light and looked through a silver circle with its beady black eye. Then it croaked to its brother.

"Rrrrrrring!"

Rodger Smith
May 24, 1938 Boston Massachusetts

To: Bantum Books Submissions
c/o Sherry Crumpton, editor

Dear Ms. Crumpton, I hope this letter finds you doing well. Enclosed please find a series of pages written by my friend Arthur Trent, who disappeared so mysteriously over two years ago. I have taken the liberty of arranging the pages to begin with his meeting of Lajoona – because he seems to decided to leave only this manuscript with me, while living what's left of his life with her. I will allow you make your own decision about its validity, although I believe it to be true. It begins:

Dear Rodger, I know I've told you the basics of how I came to be here, deep within the domed cities of the oceans of Europa, but I've recently become enmeshed in the battles between the royal families. Some of clans claim to have descended from ancient kingdoms on the planet of Mars, before that planet lost its atmosphere. I keep hearing about the 'proof' they have - some vestiges of Martian technology supposedly. I do have in my procession a jeweled sword believed to be Martian in origin, it is supposed to be unbreakable in the grasp of a man of royal birth.

Even more valuable than this artifact, however, are the amazing women who populate this ice encrusted water world. One in particular, a princess named Lajoona, is the most beautiful woman I have ever cast eyes upon. The only reason I met her, actually, was because the Sawenese king had captured her during a raid, and Lajoona's father offered a vast reward to whatever bloke brought her back. Of course that fearless bloke turned out to be me, after a grueling fight against the evil King Knopes.

You should have seen how inviting she looked, draped in jewels and nothing else, lounging across my co-pilot's seat as we flew through the tunnels towards her kingdom. I told her that I wanted to take her there and then.

"Are you like those barbarians, then?" she asked me in that deep, husky voice that later controlled so many of my dreams. "Are you like those who would force me into a fate worse than death? You are not only carrying me back to my father, but to my betrothed as well."

"I apologize then, for my insolence. Having just recently been brought here from Earth, I'm not familiar with who is mated to whom," I told her. I shifted my eyes towards her for only a moment before she shouted "Watch Out!"

Fortunately we were able to stop immediately – avoiding collision with a 2nd Krebitan hovercraft that was bringing us news.

As the pilot of the 2nd craft boarded my vessel, I couldn't help but notice the way her golden chainmail uniform glistened against her green skin, allowing almost complete vision of her shapely form. "Princess Lajoona," she said with a slight bow, "I fear the kingdom has been overwhelmed with a death-ray positioned by a madman named Drew Lueken from Earth." She looked at me with a near scorn, as I was also an Earthling.

"I've heard of this Drew Lueken – and his death ray," I confessed.

Lajoona looked at me, full in the face for the first time. "Since you've heard of him and know what he's capable of, can you help us oust him, Arthur Trent?"

"I can only promise to do my best. At least we'll have the element of surprise on our side…and I'm acquainted with his idiosyncrasies, while he knows nothing about me."

Fifteen minutes later our vessels were deep inside the domed city, having penetrated the royal secret tunnel. Within the castle itself we found twenty young beauties chained to Drew Lueken's ray machine. He stood upon some scaffolding, above a sea of onlookers, raising his fists to the clear dome which formed the life-giving shield against the near freezing seas outside.

"I will have princess Lajoona as my bride, or I will level my gun at each of these girls, one at a time. If, by the time I finish, the royal maiden is not here, I will rupture the dome and flood this city you care so much about. My starship waits there, so I care not!" He then let out a dark, cruel, mocking laugh that rang like death throughout the entire assembly.

The king stepped forward. "Please don't do this to these girls and my daughter. Princess Lajoona is engaged to another…"

"I have killed him already, he begged for his life like a sissy girl, the same way you are begging now. You sicken me! Are there no real men on this god-forsaken planet? Come forth!" He held up a sword daring those men around the stage to challenge him.

I jumped onto the platform within feet of the fiend. "I will take up that challenge Drew Lueken," I shouted while leaping towards him, two swords swinging - one in each hand. One sword swiped his face, while the other dove straight into his black, evil heart. He staggered back a few steps, his blonde hair darkening with thick blood, before falling backwards off the stage.

All of those around me cheered and began to free the young maidens from their chains. Throughout all the cities of the domes, there was a celebration of freedom – racing like an earthquake through the domes and tunnels.

Suddenly she was there before me, standing on the raised platform - lovely Lajoona. "I suppose my fiancé is dead, so let me take you up on your earlier offer." She looked up into my hungry eyes as our lips met for the first time.

Ms. Crumpton, you can see what I mean – there are more stories in this manuscript. I found this on my doorstep, only a few nights ago. I wish you would consider it for publication. Thank you most kindly, once again, for your time, your Humble Servant, Roger Smith.

Afternoons on Thlerek homeworld were always dreary and gray.From his own experience of the capital of this alien planet, Fagan had learned it was better staying at home than strolling at that time as every day an upsetting haze unfailingly came and enveloped the whole built- up area.

As the appointed human Ambassador, the 50 years old, blonde- haired Earthman considered that today such an unhappy scenery outside just reflected his sad mood and the overall situation here.

The Thlerek's planetary system wasn't too far from Klij's system.The two were inhabited by distinct species, whose relationships were in trouble now.Actually the people of Klij weren't so different from the Thlerek, many historical researches had found several evidences revealing that in the ancient past both were related in some ways, maybe they had had a common ancestor species or one of the two homeplanets had been the first one and the other system only a group of colonies created afterwards, but there were some serious discussions among the opposite factions about this matter, obviously.

Lately, the debate had become even much harder, along with some disputed territorial claims of a portion of space comprising three asteroid belts which looked very important in terms of outcomes like mining deposits and sources of energy.A space war was going to happen, many experts predicted, and that was a terrible occurrence for both alien worlds's life.And for Earth's interests in the area, too, given the fact that such natural resources were very valuable for his homeplanet's interplanetary trade and cause of their strategic point almost placed between the two systems.

After all the recent exchange of affronts,implied threats of using force and so on, the space armies of the two species had been put on state of alert and Fagan expected they might even been mobilized soon to fight a terrible battle, which could result in the loss of millions, along with the damage of the planets' surface and their natural environments.Such a war could even endanger the precious asteroid belts or even destroy them, something that Earth had necessarily to prevent, somehow.

Suddenly, someone rang the buzzer.On the holomonitors a known face appeared: Hrek, the first son of the planet ruler, and young Prince of the Reigning House, along with two corpulent Thlerek bodyguards.

Fagan let him in,as the man had become acquainted with that alien long ago after their first meeting during the formal garden party at the time of his diplomatic accreditation here, ten years ago.He reputed the Prince a clever Thlerek, many times he had had long chats with him about politics and life, as that sort of things proved very good for Earth's interests, of course.

As soon as the Prince entered his old English country-style sitting room, the man noticed his guest's sulk.

"War is near, Ambassador" the alien told him "I'm terribly worried for my people"

"My fears were true, unfortunately…" Fagan replied, reclining heavily on his easy chair "Your people are better equipped and technologically supllied, anyway"

"But the loss will be great on both sides…"

"I know you have always been wishing peace. May I offer you a drink?"

The Prince nodded.Then the two sipped a tasty Irish liquor.

"If I may ask you a question…" the Earthman added, considering something he had been thinking of over the last weeks, while having a glance at an old paper book with a leather cover on his shelf, a thing he had always brought along everywhere (outpost,planet,etc.) he had been assigned to previously,maybe to give himself airs.The title was: Personal Relationships across Cultures, by Robin Goodwin "Doesn't one of your most revered religious precepts state 'Never kill any of your relatives, by birth or in-laws'?"

"True"

"What about a marriage?I mean, the Klij Reigning House has got a very beautiful Princess, in general female Klij are very pretty indeed, more than the female kind on your planet…"

"By marrying a Klij Princess I could prevent the war from taking place…" the Prince outlined.

"…because your people would never kill your wife's people and the Klij Reigning House, as your new relatives in-laws, it would be against your religion!So both populations would be safe…"

"I like Klij girls's gray skin…and I've seen some holo footages of the Princess before,I could easily fall in love with such a beautiful woman!"

"The Klij likely would be glad to accept such a marriage of interest, like this they could find the way not to get stuck into a dangerous fighting in space with a few hopes of victory only cause of some territorial arguments…"

"Wonderful!What could I do?"

"Just let your old human ambassador take care of everything…" the man smiled.

Only one month after,during a formal garden party in the Royal Palace, the two newlyweds were walking along happily.

While looking at the loving couple, Fagan considered that Klij women looked really very beautiful in person, apart that blemish, a slobbery peduncle under their mouth.On the other hand,the Thlerek skin was a bit disgusting, given those bony protuberances on the arms, and their height was the same than a small dwarf's…maybe the two species had been only one in the past, but then they had differentiated greatly…

The things you do to prevent a war!

Love wins everything, when it is around,at times also when it isn't enough, too…

The Earthman reminded himself of the passage of that old book by Goodwin, saying that "Throughout the world, marriage can be divided along a continuum ranging from those societies where marriage is totally arranged to those where individuals have complete freedom in mate choice…".This was a case included in the first option,certainly.

All that was for a greater good.Earth's good, too, of course…

Nebula's face grew softly with a hue that only another Cartunison would understand. She faced Captain Eric Arabin of the USS Victorian —in geostationary orbit around Earth. Its armaments faces Velensia, a rogue planet that will collide with Earth. She places her finger over Eric shoulder which pulls her hand over until it rests near his neck so softly that Captain Arabin doesn't feel it for a moment or two. She reassures him that Planet Velensia will be finished evacuating within a few moments

"Our DNA match. Remember, it was my ancestors that seeded your planet," Nebula said. Her soft-green skin pulsed with a radiance never seen on Earth females. And her tall-lean body with shapely feminine muscles maneuvered itself closer to Captain Arabin.

Eyes from a tall-blonde-haired communications officer flashed, and invisible daggers shot out hitting Nebula, or so anybody would have thought if they had witnessed the blonde's expression. An oriental female officer with jet-black hair and a rock-solid-athletic build also stopped for an instance, and like the blonde, invisible arrows and samurai swords and battle-axes slashed at Nebula's body, or so anybody would have thought if witnessing that officer's expression.

Nebula looked at both female officers one at a time and smiled at each in turn, and she raised up her left eyebrow as her fingers dug more into Captain Arabin's shoulder. Her smile caused other female eyes to flash, and as more flashed, Nebula's smile deepened!

More male officers seemed to enter the bridge than normal, and their eyes always stayed on Nebula until they had to look away in order to not trip over a chair or bump into another on the bridge. But they always returned afterwards to Nebula.

"I hate that bitch!" the communications officer Pamela Monet said.

"My, my, my—do I detect a tad of Jealousy among—some junior officers here?" First Lieutenant Eric Kampton said. Other female eyes fell upon Eric as he walked away with a grin more chiseled onto his face than formed by muscular contraction. And as he walked, his eyes were locked onto Nebula like a tracking-laser that had just found its target! He stopped at his duty station and touched his display screen, and almost instantly he announced: "Evacuation completed,"

"Right on time," Nebula said. "The last transport must be nearing the edge of the atmosphere by now. I know the commander, but he is no Arabin." Nebula's fingers started playing with Captain Arabin's collar but he was concentrating to much to feel anything.

"Fire all Destructors," Captain Arabin ordered. Each destructor carried more explosives that both the United State and the Soviet Union ever had on stock. And all twenty-missiles left the Victorian in sequence, and the ship slightly wobbled like an old earth-submarine that had just launched it torpedoes.

Captain Arabin looked up at Nebula, and with eyes that rolled from command to eyes that became soft and gentle with sparkles dancing off each one intermittently, said: "Now we wait."

"We wait for nothing!!" Nuyet Tram, the oriental officer shouted.

All eyes locked onto Nuyet Tram, some stood up, other grasped, while two slipped out an exit.

She held an antique double-barreled shotgun at Nebula and Captain Arabin, and looked as if she knew how to use it.

"It was so easy sneaking this past the security screener. I just put it into plasma-replacement parts and—what-do-you-know? In it came!

"Now move away from Captain Arabin you alien-bitch!" Nuyet ordered.

"Well, well…the truth comes out. After all these months we know now who sabotaged the Corigan and I was on it! You would have murdered 200 passengers just to kill me," Nebula said. She moved away from Captain Arabin but didn't take her now icy-crystallized eyes off Nuyet, nor did Nuyet take her eyes off Nebula.

"Saving your race? Is that what everybody thinks? They do, you know. But I know the truth: Cartunison females are dominating all Earth males, and reducing them into whimps. I've seen it everywhere! Your plan is so obvious: Conquer Earth by making all men puppets ."

"Destructors entering Cartunison's atmosphere," a metallic sounding voice boomed forth.

"Nuyet—you're a good officer—and I always thought of you as I would a daughter…really I love you as I would a daughter, you…" Captain Arabin started to say.

"You lie! It is her that you want!! Her— the one from the stars!" Nuyet said.

"Yes, I agree with Nuyet! I've seen it for myself on Mars Colony New Castle. All the men became slaves to—to female Cartunisons. They will obey them without hesitation once a female Cartunison webs her spell over them," Pamela said. She sided with Nuyet.

"Destructors have deflected Cartunison's path—it will miss Earth now by twenty-million miles," the metallic voice boomed again. A round of cheers could be hear over the intercom. But on the bridge all remained rigid."

"That's great news," Captain Arabin said. "All Cartunison will be able to return to their planet.

"They will never return," Nuyet said.

"No they wouldn't! And why should they? Those alien-bitches are getting what they want—on Earth!" Pamela said.

Side by side now both Nuyet and Pamela glared at Nebula with such an intense stare that the bridge felt hot.

"Do it now!" Pamela said.

As Nuyet started to take aim, Pamela's left hand sliced through the air and knocked the shotgun down to the floor. And in the back stroke, she elbowed Nuyet's cheek-bone so hard that all heard the crack of bone. Nuyet fell, and within a second she was subdued by four bridge-members.

"You fools! Don't you see what they are doing?" Nuyet screamed as she was led out of the bridge for the Brig.

Captain Arabin issued orders as Nebula stood next to him. But a feeling of joy permeated the bridge as the confirmation came in: Cartunison was deflected.

Nebula studied Captain Arabin then said, "I think our races are very similar emotionally, too."

Captain Arabin nodded.

Princess Salvia felt the weight of her mission. The Planet Earths were in turmoil!

Two of the Earth's meta-universes, the planet Earth in grid sector 247 was in conflict with the planet Earth in grid sector 3, each grid representing a ripple in the string theory of quantum gravity, originating from the first historical Earth in grid sector 1. With each new act of evil by the residents of the original Earth, discord was set in motion with chaos ensuing throughout the Earths of other dimensions.

Princess Salvia of the blue humanity of Earth's Upsilon Prime in grid sector 247 has been assigned the mission to heal the rift in Earth's multiverses by reversing the evil deeds of just one human being on the originating planet Earth in grid sector 1. All realities share identical timelines and geography, but the humans of each dimension, have variations of appearance, such as the blue complexion of the people of Upsilon Prime.

Most multiverse inhabitants have long since discovered how to breach each of their parallel worlds by dimensional shifts through the invention of metaquon physics, moving about freely to each reality, in hopes of escaping their own world's decay.

Princess Salvia's mission is to select one individual and reverse his chaotic state to one of Truth, so that the Truth may be plainly seen on the individual's face, in the hopes of resetting the metawave calibration, causing a chain reaction with all other beings of that individual's dimension, thereby lessoning the wave imbalance of the other string dimensions.

The princess was phased outside a bar called, "The Taproom" located on East Main Street, in Louisville, Kentucky.

As she walks into the bar, her stunning beauty fills the room as each male in attendance gazes in amazement. Her blue, silken skin tone does not surprise the local clientele, who has seen everything through the years.

A handsome cad, in a sleazy kind of way stepped up to the plate in hopes of scoring with the beautiful, blue skinned alien, before any other guy had a chance.

"Hey baby, did you take a bath in window cleaner, cause I can see myself in your pants?" the handsome rogue let's rip his warm up pitch.

The princess only looks at him, trying to figure out his meaning and intent.

Not getting a desired reaction he tries again. "Are you some sort of space alien," (he says jokingly, because of her skin tone) cause I can show you by cosmic baaaang theory"! Again, no reaction from the princess.

Not willing to give up. "Baby doll, I'm no Fred Flintstone, but I can make your Bedrock," he says hoping for a smile, a laugh…anything.

She asks, "Do you speak English?"

"Okay, okay, I get it babe. Nooo problem. I can lay off the come-ons. By the way, I want you to know, I'd marry your cat, just so I could get close to your pus…".

"Stop!" the beautiful blue princess ordered. "I am from the multiverse Earth in grid sector 247 and I'm here to reverse your evil ways, so my world won't collide…"

He interrupts her as he smiles and says, "Sure Babe, I get it". Quickly changes the subject attempting to score, "You know I'm a spaceman. My next mission is a trip to Ur-anus!"

It is at this point that Princess Salvia understands it is a battle of wills. She does not want to mate with this man, but she will do anything necessary to save her planet from destruction.

"You got some great legs babe, what time do they open?".

She says insistently, "If you won't believe my words, may I take you…?" He interrupts her in mid sentence.

"Babe, you can take me anywhere, (trying to sound cool) at anytime."

"Please!" she stated urgently.

He tries yet again, "Do you work for the postal service, cause I DO believe I caught you checking out my package!"

"Do you not care that the fate of my planet…?"

"Good thing I have my library card, cause I'm totaling checking you out!" He says with a grin.

With little time to find another human to transform, she ponders, while he continues with the barrage of pathetic bar patter.

"I can see it would be easy for me to go on the skids…all your curves and me with noooo brakes."

Just then, he gets a smile from her, but not for the reason he thinks. He keeps pressing.

"Are you a parking ticket? 'Cause you've got FINE written ALL over you."

Saving his best for last, he unzips his pants and says boldly, "Is it too late for my entry into your flash challenge!"

Just then, she places her hand on his shoulder and with a sudden flash of light, they phase back to her dimension. Before he realizes what has happened, he is paralyzed as the metabolic gene designers carry out each of the princess's orders. She was kind enough to stuff him back into his pants, wondering to herself why the original Earth residents put so much focus on their sex organs, when what really turns a woman on in her dimension…is respect.

Having his wallet as a reference, the pick up artist was phased back to his pad the next morning.

Meanwhile, the princess was summoned before her planet's joint council.

The head of the congressional order inquired, "Did you accomplish your mission, Princess Salvia?"

"I did," she replied, "As intended, the truth is now easily seen upon his visage!"

He woke up the next morning from a crazy dream and went to the bathroom to splash water on his face as usual. He flipped on the light and began rubbing water into his eyes when he became alarmed by what he felt. He jerked up to look into the mirror in horror. His ruggedly handsome face was now…the face of a pig!

"Cortez, report!"

Buzz Jordan, Earthfleet captain, sat slumped in his command chair. The lifeless bodies of crew members littered the bridge. The air was heavy with the smell of fried electronics and burnt flesh. Lieutenant Alejandra Cortez swept errant mahogany tresses behind her exquisite ear and worked feverishly at the control console.

"Lieutenant! Report!" Jordan barked.

"They're dead, Buzz."

"By Einstein's tongue, woman! You're not making any sense."

"Earthfleet is gone, Mordac's cyborg Chi-fighters have destroyed all our ships. Weapon systems are offline, our core is going critical and life support is failing."

"Don't bore me with clichés, give me something I can use."

"Hello, anyone there?" The English West-Country accent of BUG-B, the ship's translator-bot crackled over the intercom.

Jordan stabbed the comm button on his command chair. "BUG-B, where the hell are you?"

"Down in engineering, where you told me to go."

"Can you get the engines back online?"

"Well, no. I'm a translator-bot. You want the stubby white-blue maintenance-bots for fixing stuff."

"There must be something you can do!" Alejandra said.

"Alright. I'll give it a go. Let me just try… Hang on."

A resounding clang echoed throughout the ship. The helm station in front of Cortez lit up, indicators changing from red to amber to green.

"You're a genius, BUG-B," Alejandra said. "What did you do?"

"Just gave it a good whack."

"Set a collision course, Lieutenant. Straight for Mordac's death-cruiser."

"That's a little obvious, isn't it?"

"By Hawking's Wheelchair, follow my orders, Lieutenant!"

"A collision course with my death-cruiser, a little obvious was it not?" Mordac's deep baritone mocked Jordan from deep within his dark gimp-mask-like visor.

Jordan, naked to the waist, struggled in vain against his bonds, his rippling, tanned muscles glistened with the sweat of his exertion. He was strapped to the side of a K-OS bomb, suspended over hanger bay doors. Cortez and BUG-B were similarly bound beside him.

"Why was it necessary to strip me and put me in a leather bikini?" Alejandra asked.

"Count yourself lucky, I'm naked." BUG-B said.

"You're a bot, you're always naked."

"You'll never get away with this, Mordac!" Buzz shouted, trying to regain control of the wandering dialogue.

"I already have!"

Mordac's insane laughter filled the hanger as the bay doors slid open beneath the K-OS bomb. Only a semi-permeable force field separated the last remaining Earthfleet crew from the fusion inferno that was the star of the Sado planetary system.

"Don't worry, the bomb's force shield will protect you," Mordac cackled. "You will have time to enjoy the view before it destroys this star and all the planets in its system"

"Father, stop!"

"By Newton's fig, it's Ambassador Zoltrixie!" Jordan boggled at the green skinned amazon, barely clad in a tight rubber leotard and ridiculously high heeled thigh boots who had just entered the hanger bay.

"I thought she had been kidnapped by Mordac's henchmen," BUG-B said.

"Obviously, she has been a double agent the entire time, leaking Earthfleet's plans to her father," Alejandra replied.

"When you've quite finished your exposition," Mordac said. "It's time for Buzz Jordan to die!"

The sound of a laser pistol's sharp report split the air.

"Daughter, what have you done?" Mordac clasped a gloved fist to the smoking hole drilled through his torso by Zoltrixie's laser gun.

"Where did she pull that from?" BUG-B asked. "I mean, that rubber leotard doesn't leave anything to the imagination. There should've been a bulge."

"I'm sorry, Daddy!" Zoltrixie said. "I can't let you murder the father of my unborn child."

"I'm going to be a grandpa?"

Mordac tumbled forward, his body slipped through the semi-permeable force field and plummeted towards the star below, turning to incandescent plasma as it fell.

"You know, I always thought you were the love interest," BUG-B said. Lieutenant Cortez and the droid sat together at the back of the immense cathedral as Ambassador Zoltrixie and Captain Buzz Jordan spoke their wedding vows, cementing the Earth-Sado treaty and bringing peace to the war-torn galaxy.

"Goddess, no. I'm a lesbian. Anyway, why have you got that ridiculous English West-Country accent?"

"It's very fashionable in cybernetics. Besides, all the campy gold translator-bots were out of stock. Not much point being a translator-bot anyway, Everywhere you go, aliens speak perfectly good English."

"Did anyone tell Buzz that on the planet Sado males out number females by thousands, and that their society has developed into a matriarchy ruled by vicious dominatrices who demand slavish devotion from their huge male harems?" Alejandra asked.

"Dominatrices?"

"Plural of dominatrix."

"No, I don't think he knows." BUG-B said.

"Mordac was actually a freedom fighter trying to break their tyrannical rule."

"A bit late to be telling me now."

"Did anyone tell Buzz that in the Sado reproduction system, once the embryo is fertilised inside the female, she will then forcibly implant it far into the male's digestive tract to gestate.?"

"Pretty sure that hasn't been mentioned."

Up at the alter, despite his spirited resistance, Buzz was being stripped and bound again. Male slaves bent and tied him across the huge alter stone, legs spread. Behind him, Zoltrixie bared her well-defined, green abdomen, a tentacle pseudo-pod emerged from her navel, slimy with mucus.

"Interesting fact." Alejandre said. "Women from the planet Sado often visited Earth during the late twentieth century, before we discovered space travel. Some kind of sexual tourism for them. They would kidnap clueless hicks from the American mid-west, have their tentacle way with them and then brain-wipe them."

Up at the alter, Zoltrixie stepped forward, her pseudo pod probed tentatively between Buzz's taught buttocks. Buzz's screams, even through the ball gag, echoed loudly around the cathedral.

"That explains a lot," BUG-B said.

"Yes, alien abduction, anal probing and tentacle rape hentai. We have a lot to thank them for."