Episode III
Teaching Vasudans to Dance.
 

 Space glistened outside the two craft, they sat in space, not knowing where they were, not knowing what was going on, and after the day’s action, everyone was tired. The skeleton crews of the night shifts came out, checking gages, watching the screens. And doing what they did.
 David sat down in the large Admiral quarters. The door chimed. David clicked a button on the small table next to him. The large screens displayed Space; the beautiful view from the middle of space was awe-inspiring.
 Sam walked in, David sloshed his Singing Seth around in his glass. Sam sat down into the large leather couch facing Sam. The screens were on an angle to the right of them. David looked down into his drink.
 “Aren’t those things supposed to taste terrible?” David nodded. He took a large gulp, and cringed.
 “When you disappeared, they were all I could drink. Me, Stonefox, and that bartender on the Galatea created it. It’s an Altary punch and a Vasuda lime. A mixture of you and Vo’tion.” David suddenly began to smile. He reached forward in his place. “Remember your wedding?” He pointed at Sam. Sam smiled. He nodded. “Vo’tion…” Sam’s smile grew as David began to laugh. “We went around to like fifty ships trying to find a tailor…” David laughed.
 “Vo’tion never looked good in that Tux.” David fell back laughing.
 “And neither did you, if I remember.” Sam smiled, and shook his head.
 “Susan thought…” He drifted off. “So beautiful.” David nodded. He smiled. “Didn’t expect it, especially after that whole escapade with Triton.” David nodded.
He stood up and looked out into space.
 “I can’t see it.” David said. Sam stood with him. “I can’t see it Damnit!” David threw his drink at the screen, the glass exploded, and the liquid rolled down the screen, making a pool on the floor.
 “You broke the glass.” Sam said.
 “Earth. I can’t see it.” David said. He turned. “Do you still think of it? Of her?” Sam nodded slowly.
 “All the time. But you weren’t talking about that small blue planet were you?” David shook his head, he walked over and sat down. Sam followed him, and sat down in the opposite couch.
 “What happened to you?” David asked. Sam drew the cowl up over his head.
 “Death, and life.” He said slowly. “Darkness and light.” He said. “Night and day.” He said finally. “I met someone, trapped in the darkness of space, and in the darkness he brought me to the light, and now I’m here, to die again.”
 

 “Beep, Beep” The door chime sang. Kate stood, she smoothed out her shirt. She had on civilian clothes, and pants that were in style. She pushed a button by the door, and it slid open. Ridow walked in with a jacket that reached down to his knees, he had a black shirt and a worn pair of jeans. He strolled in.
 “You look nice.” Ridow said, smiling. Kate slapped him on the back, and pushed him into the room.
 “Get in.” The ensign followed, still in uniform. Ridow backhanded Dirken in the chest.
 “See, Captain’s quarters are much nicer then yours.” Kate closed the door and stepped forward.
 Beware Leader for the Shivans. Kate stopped, the voice went away.
 “Something wrong?” Kate shook her head. She pointed at the small table. They crowded around. “mm… Synthetic food, my favorite.” Kate smiled.
 “You know I can’t cook.” Ridow looked up.
 “Can you kill Shivans?” Kate nodded, Ridow picked up a fork, and he dipped it into the half-real looking food. He took a piece. “Then you can cook.” Kate smiled. He bit into the food, and swallowed. He suddenly whipped up the Altary punch. He breathed in hard. “This is good.” He said in a horse voice. Kate smiled and lifted up a box with a big GTVA logo on it.
 “Don’t blame me, this is GTVA Official.” Ridow pointed his fork at the box.
 “That would explain it.” The ensign laughed, they all smiled. Kate looked up at David. Time froze.

 “What do you see?” Vo’tion asked, walking around Ridow, he had a fork halfway to his mouth.
 “What the Hell are you doing?” Kate asked. Taking a napkin, she wiped off her mouth and slapped the napkin down on the table. Vo’tion spread his large Vasudan arms. “Did you have to interrupt my dinner party?” Vo’tion gave a half smile.
 “Good you are ready.” Kate pointed an angry finger at Vo’tion.
 “Just be glad I don’t have my sword yet.” Kate cut her hand through the air. Vo’tion nodded. “Now are you just going to stand there, or are you going to continue?” Vo’tion stepped back a moment.
 “Yes, well… What do you see?” He asked. Kate shrugged.
 “Captain Ridow.” She said finally.
 “Beware.” Vo’tion said. “Look behind him.”

 Time started again, Vo’tion was gone. “Something wrong?” Ridow asked. Kate frowned, she looked over at Dirken, he looked back, half surprised.
 

  Kate walked into the training room, David was already there. Ridow wasn’t far behind her. Kate stopped. “Admiral, why were we taken out of today’s patrol?” David pointed at Sam. Sam reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a band, he tied it around his forehead, his hair fell down around it.
 The door slid open and a tall Vasudan walked in carrying a Vasudan crescent blade on his back. The Vasudan stopped, he stared at Sam, suddenly, anger and fear filled the Vasudan’s face. He drew the blade, like a Terran sword, the Crescent blade was curved, to an almost intolerable degree. The scabbard tipped, and fell back as the blade was drawn. The Vasudan grabbed the hilt and pulled the gray hilt down and elongated it. The weapon had no guard.
 “You!” The Vasudan yelled “The one who bares the ripped stash of Vo’tion.” Sam was shocked. “Did Vo’tion scream as you ripped it from his dying body?” The Vasudan ran forward. “You will cry when I rip it from your worthless brow.” The sword suddenly appeared in Sam’s Hand; he held it down, in a slashed position. The Vasudan rushed in. Sam nicked the sword, and dodged out of the way. The Vasudan slid past. Sam held the Sword high in the air. The Vasudan reached up, and touched the small scratch on his face; he had barely cut the skin.
 “Want to try again?” Sam said. The Vasudan rushed in, his blade held high. Sam braced his back leg, and took the brunt. He slid the Vasudan’s blade to the ground in one motion. The Vasudan twirled the sword around, and came down on Sam’s blade. He smiled. Sam spun his sword out, and moved his arms high with the blade pointing down. Sword crashed against the Sword. The Vasudan was stunned for a moment. Sam drew the Vasudan’s sword around in a circle and brought the Vasudan’s blade to the ground. The Vasudan jumped back, freeing his blade; he charged Sam again, quicker this time. Sam thrusted his sword into the Vasudan’s weapon. The Vasudan broke free, and threw his blade as he passed. Sam ducked; the weapon passed through the air where Sam's head had been. He lifted the sword above his head. And brought it crashing down into Sam. Sam rolled out of the way, The sword clashed into the ground. Sam jumped back to his feet. The Vasudan brought his sword back up to bare.
 “Who are you?” The Vasudan asked. The Vasudan swung his sword around, the crescent blade hooked on Sam’s sword, Sam forced the sword quickly down, the Vasudan spun the sword, allowing Sam to free his sword, Sam’s sword hit the ground. His cloak split apart, it revealed his broken, and ripped uniform, an old GTA Uniform. The Vasudan brought his sword back up. Sam griped his sword with two hands; he brought it back behind his shoulders, and forced it into the Vasudan’s weapon. The blade was cut in half. Sam’s cloak followed his arm with the follow through.
 “I am Samuel Morrison. The Leader for the Shivans.” The Vasudan dropped the hilt, and fell to one knee.
 “I am Sorry Prophesied. I do not deserve to live.” The Vasudan bowed his head. “Kill me now, I do not deserve to live with this dishonor.” Sam shook his head.
 “Vo’tion was my friend. He gave me this band to remember him by. He wouldn’t want me to kill you.” Sam threw his sword across the room. It stopped at Kate’s feet.  “Stand.” The Vasudan stood. Sam reached out a hand.
 “I believe that this is the proper Terran greeting.” The Vasudan smiled. He took Sam’s hand. After they were done, the Vasudan bowed his head.
 “I am Ma’cran of house Vo’rant. We had a special kinship with house Vo’tion. We fought along side them during the Sa’ka’an wars, your Great War. We vowed to uphold the honor of house Vo’tion no matter what the cost.” Sam nodded.
 “Don’t worry about it Vo’rant.” Sam said. Sam walked over and picked up his sword. Kate eyed the tall Vasudan, his flowing red robes, his name inscribed in Vasudan down the center. Sam reached down and picked up the sword. He nodded at Kate.
 “Catherine, I’d like you to meet Captain Vo’rant.”  Vo’rant nodded, Kate repeated the action. Sam looked puzzled, but shook it off. “Vo’rant, I’d like you to meet Catherine Norrow, The Second Leader for the Shivans.” The Vasudan turned.
 “But how Prophesied? You are still alive.” Sam waved a hand in front of his face, as if to brush the comment off.
 “Don’t worry about that now.” The Vasudan looked back. He saw the pieces of his broken blade.
 “My Lo’kan has been destroyed, As soon as I return to Vasuda I will have to acquire a new one.” Sam shook his head.
 “There’s no need for that.” He brought a shining Vasudan scabbard out of his coat. The Vasudan stepped back, and fell to a knee.
 “How can you have that?” Vo’rant asked half shocked. Sam turned to David.
 “David, I’d like that pin you’re carrying around.” David reached into his pocket and pulled out the bloody GTVA pin from his dead Captain. He passed it to Sam.
 “And when Alien blood, meets Vasudan hilt, the secret will be revealed.” Vo’rant quoted. Sam pushed the pin into the bottom of the hilt. The sword’s hilt began to vibrate, the base lifted out with a loud click. A small chip popped out. Sam lifted the chip out and the base clicked back into the hilt.
 “Stand Ma’cran of house Vo’rant and take the sword of Ma’tang Cho’rono, the sword of Vo’tion.” Vo’rant stood, he drew the blade, he read off the Vasudan inscription.
 “When Ancient Blood, meets Vasudan Hilt, the secret will be revealed.” He turned the blade over, Vo’rant spoke. “For generations we could not read these words.” He pointed to a Terran inscription on the sword. He opened his mouth to read the words, but Sam cut him off.
 “And when The Blade of the Dawn is raised to the sky, and the sword of Vo’tion meets it, what shall be and what is will merge into one, the Leader for the Shivans will unite our peoples.” The next few words were in Vasudan, an old ancient saying on Vasuda, Vo’rant and Sam spoke them together.
 “May you live to see your home.” Vo’rant slid the sword back into its scabbard. He never questioned Sam’s knowledge of what was inscribed on the sword. Sam turned to David.
 “David, do you have a machine that’ll read data chips from thirty two years ago?” David walked over to one of the consoles. He hit a few keys and showed the way for Sam. Sam inserted the chip, the machine hummed and beeped with a vibrating noise. Then it played the tape back. Vo’tion stood with the backdrop of an Ancient Vasudan house. He spoke.
 “To you, the Vasudan who bares this sword, if you are hearing this, then you are Vo’rant, I cannot explain how I know your name, nor can I explain how I know of the new symbol of our worlds alliance. All you need to know is that this sword is yours; it is the symbol that will unite our people with the Terrans. In this place that Sam called a limbo state, seems to contain water,” The Vasudan waved a hand through the air. “And air, but no nutrients needed to sustain me. I have given the prophecies; I have sown the seeds for my journey in the future. I do not know how I have lived this long, but I feel the strength failing me. Time is short now, I must be brief. Follow the Leader for the Shivans, he knows what he is doing, he will choose his successors, treat whoever that is as if they were he. Or myself. Ma’cran Vo’rant.” The Vasudan struggled, the image flickered. “No power left.” The Vasudan said to himself. “I entrust you with the power of Vasuda, may you live to see your home.” The image turned to static, and melted away. David reached over and shut off the monitor. Sam turned to Vo’rant. Vo’rant pulled the sword out.
 “Prophesied, My blade, my soul is yours, command me and I shall follow, tell me what you want done, and it shall be finished.” Sam nodded.
 “I need nothing of you yet Vo’rant, except to help me train Catherine.” Vo’rant smiled. “She is the second Leader for the Shivans.” Vo’rant nodded, he turned to Kate. He lifted an arm to his shoulder, as he passed the sword back into its scabbard.
 “Second Prophesied.” He began. “ My sword is yours, if you can best me in a duel.” He said. Kate smiled.
 “That’s two challenges I have to meet.” Kate said smiling. Vo’rant nodded.

 “Wider, increase your stance, bring the sword up higher, guard your neck.” Kate widened her stance. She brought the sword up. The hilt held high above her head. Sam struck Kate’s sword with his own. “Slide the sword down in a fluid motion.” Kate tried. “No.” Sam Said. “You’re dead. Do it again.” Kate pulled the sword up again, and tried again. “No!” Sam said. “Again!” Kate threw the sword away. “What are you doing?” Sam asked, following after her.
 “I’m tired.” She said, half-angry.
 “Shivans don’t get tired!” Sam said. “You’ve got to be stronger then them.” Sam said. Kate sat down on a wooden bench in the gym.
 “Well right now I’m not battling a Shivan.” The world, spun and turned, Vo’tion stood before her.

 “Vo’tion.” Kate exclaimed. She stood and walked over to the Vasudan. “You really have to stop, stopping time like this.” Vo’tion gave a short smile. “Was Sam always like this?” Kate asked. Vo’tion shook his head.
 “Sam wants you to become a great fighter, and he’s pushing you to your limit. He does know best.” Kate nodded.
 “If there was only a way I could become stronger.” Vo’tion made a small box appear from the air. He opened it up, the yellow glow filled the darkness. “What is that?” Kate asked. Vo’tion allowed the small glowing orb to float towards Kate. It stopped before her.
 “All you have to do is reach out and take it, and then you will gain what you seek.” Kate looked at the orb as if a child looking at some forbidden toy. She reached out, her hand moving closer towards it. She was an inch from its shining surface. She brought her hand back, and clenched it into a fist.
 “No.” She said solemnly. “I don’t need this.” She backhanded the  orb, it disappeared. Vo’tion smiled.
 “See, you do not need to take the sphere to discover it within yourself…” The room melted back.

 Kate stood. She picked up her sword. She aimed the point at Sam. “Leader for the Shivans.” She started. She took up a battle stance. “Are you just going to walk away? Or are we going to finish this training?” Sam smiled and walked back.

 “Say that Again.” David said, half-angry. He stood in a large briefing room on the Requiem. The officer swallowed.
 “We picked them up on long range scanners this morning. A large Shivan battle group is heading straight for us. Three Shivan destroyers, and four cruisers. They’ll get here in about three days.” David nodded.
 “How are we on supplies?” David asked.
 “we have enough food to feed both surviving crews combined for approximately one year. After that we’ll have to switched to synthesized ration packs.” David nodded.
 “How are repairs on the subspace drive coming?” He asked. The officer checked the sheet.
 “Two days max. We have inertial power restored, but the secondary energy converter has still sustained some damage. We can jump yes, but it would take us an amazingly long time to get there.” David nodded.
 “What about the Dunwitch Hill?” The officer shook his head. “Damn.” David said slowly. “All right, begin evacuating people off the Dunwitch Hill, find them quarters, move ships over, we’re going to need all the fighters we can spare.” He punched up a display screen. “Convert Cargo bay two into a hydroponics bay, and start setting up extra houses for those fighters.” The officer swallowed again.
 “Sir, that’ll take more then a week.” David nodded.
 “You have two days.” The Officer checked his paper, “What about the Neo-Terran Front officer?” he started.
 “Take him to the Dunwitch Hill, and lock him away.” The officer nodded.
 “Are we planning to take him with us?” The officer asked. David grew stern.
 “You have your orders Mister.” The officer saluted and walked out of the room. David circled the table, he dragged his hand across its cold, smooth surface. Death in space was cold, very cold indeed. That lieutenant was a fool. Those ships would be there in two days not three. The Shivans weren’t that slow. But how did they know where to find them? David waved off the notion and walked out of the room. And somewhere on the Dunwitch hill an ensign smiled.

     To be continued…
 
 

Leader for the Shivans 3: Journey from Dunwitch Hill
Will continue with:

Episode IV: The Broken wings of a Dove.