The massive fortress known simply as the Skycruiser drifted through space. Its nearly three month voyage almost complete. The Lunataks were coming home. In the control room Luna, on her steed Amok, paced back and forth in a manner that many would describe as anxious, but that she called thoughtful. And who was to disagree with her? She was the queen of the Lunataks. She was not alone on the bridge, nor was she the only one feeling eager to be home. Darius, aide to Prince Tycho, Psychro and Psikaris were there too.
 

Luna was quite pleased with how things had gone. It had been so long ago that Darius had arrived on Third Earth with a means to transport herself and her allies home. It hadn't taken the team of Psikaris, Psychro and Alluro long to rig the new engines up. They functioned on the principle of gaining power from passing stars. This in turn would allow the ship to travel to the next. Theoretically they could continue forever, until they ran out of stars.
 

There was only one problem with going home. Luna was indeed the queen, but someone else was holding the throne. Two people, if you wanted to be picky. Tycho was one of the two men who had been vying for power among the five Moons of Plundarr, but there was another. King Aristarchus, a cousin of hers or something.
 

"Luna?" Psychro's voice asked, sending her thoughts scattering to the four winds.

"What is it?" she replied, irked.

"I said, do you want to take Tycho's message?" Psychro said.

"Very well. Put him on the screen," Luna said crisply.
 

The sphere known as Plundarr with its five satellites faded from the screen, to be replaced by the bright countenance of Tycho. Second cousin to the throne, but still possessing the common shortness that ran in the family. He had a formal royal gown of purple and scarlet on. He stood restlessly, as though he wanted to be beside her rather than where he was.
 

"Glad you could make it, my queen. We've prepared something of a welcoming over on my new flag ship, the Excelsior," Tycho said.

"We don't have time for parties, Tycho. We must crush Aristarchus' opposition before he has a chance to rally his people," Luna replied tartly.

"Ah, you don't understand. Quite understandable, I suppose. I was quite vague. This will also double as a war party. All the top commanders from the military will be there. Nothing to worry about. Everything will be under complete control. Who knows, we may even have Aristarchus before breakfast," Tycho said.

"If we catch him, he'll be breakfast," sneered Darius.

"Very well. Luna out."
 

* * *
 

Tycho sighed and leaned against the wall to support himself. "Is Luna's surprise ready?" Aristarchus asked, stepping out of the shadows, a plasma rifle pointed at Tycho's head.

"Aye sir. Everything is as you requested," a guard replied.

"Excellent. Luna is in for one heck of a shock," Aristarchus said.
 

* * *
 

Alluro, Cameo and Lura dominated the Engineering section of the Skycruiser. Sure, there were droids scurrying about doing their business, but the centre island was surrounded by the three techs. They were poring over the blue prints to the new engines. "The concept itself is quite simple," mused Alluro, "and you will have the Lunar Droids here helping you out as needed."

"Nothing should go wrong. Besides, it's not like everyone's leaving," Lura replied, shutting off the monitor.
 

The crew of the Skycruiser had been informed that they were being granted a brief shore leave to any of the moons. Luna was in a good mood, it seemed. She had been explicit that they conceal their identities as much as possible and use alternative aliases. Some of the crew had already approached her to request permission to go to particular areas.
 

"You'll do fine," Cameo said, patting the woman on the shoulder, "the only conceivable problem is if Aristarchus attacks, and then the least of your concerns will be whether the new engine modifications will hold. You'll be too busy repairing a half dozen systems to notice."

"My, aren't you cheerful today," Alluro murmured.
 

Cameo shot Alluro a withering glare before turning on his heel and leaving the room. Seconds later Darius entered, running at full tilt. "Lura are you alo... oh, you're with Alluro. Do you have a minute?" he asked.

"Certainly, what's the matter?" Lura asked, guiding him to a little used office.

"It's Tycho. Something's wrong, and I can sense it. He seems disturbed somehow, troubled, as if there's some great pressure on his mind, something he wants to do but can't. I'm scared," Darius said, his hands shakily clutching at Lura's shirt.

"What do you mean? How can you tell?" Lura asked, sitting the young changeling down.
 

Darius took a tiny sip of coffee from the mug that Lura offered him and swallowed hard. "Lura. I was five when Tycho was born. On that day I pledged myself to protect him, mind, body and soul. I've lived with him every single day, been everywhere with him. When he rode his first bike? I was there beside him. When he broke his arm in a fight? I pummelled his opponent and rushed him to safety. I've seen the ins and outs of his life. Trust me. I know when something is bothering him. I'm probably the only one he can't hide that from," he said.
 

"Okay, so something is wrong. Have you told Luna?" Lura asked.

"Yes, well no, I mean I tried to. She told me I was babbling and to go 'make myself useful.' So I came here," Darius replied.

"Maybe it would be better if I were to talk to her for you," Lura said.
 

Just then, Luna's voice came over the in-house intercom. "Attention everyone. Darius, Red Eye and I will be going to Tycho's ship in just a few moments. Tug Mug and Lura will be remaining here to control the ship. Mystan," Luna paused, Amok snickered, "will be outside the ship, cleaning it with a toothbrush until I can see my face in it. That is all."
 

* * *
 

A few moments later Luna, Red Eye and Tug Mug were standing in the transporter room on board the Excelsior. Tycho stood awaiting them at the doors with two guards on either side of him. "Welcome aboard, cousin. It is a pleasure to have such esteemed company with me. Red Eye, how I have missed your cooking in the months since we last met. Tug Mug? I thought you said Darius would be here," Tycho said.

"I changed my mind. He'd get all sappy and emotional. Now is not the time for such pleasantries. We must plan for war, and our eventual meeting with Aristarchus. He must fall in order for me to ascend the throne," Luna snapped, thwacking her cousin with her riding crop.

"Of course, your majesty. I have assembled all the personages that you will need to see in my dining hall," Tycho replied, rubbing his head.
 

* * *
 

The Excelsior was a ship designed with one purpose in mind. War. The hall ways were wide enough the group could walk in a straight line if they so chose. There were numerous weapons lockers and storage rooms for those with the right pass code. Buried in the heart of the ship, however, was the war room. This was the most heavily furnished room, and most spacious. It was also, when he so desired, turned into a dining room. Twin doors of steel opened silently to admit the travellers. "My humble abode," Tycho said, bowing to allow Luna to enter first, and into a trap. Before she could say a word, she was lifted telekinetically from her perch and held in the air.
 

Amok leapt into action, scanning the room with hate filled eyes for the telekinetic. He or she would die slowly for harming his Luna. The man in question, though, merely gestured at him, causing twenty soldiers to pump Amok full of tranquillizers.
 

Tug Mug snarled in rage and grabbed for his gravity carbine, only to find it gone. With a sickening crunch he realized that someone had just destroyed it. "Red Eye?" he gasped, turning to see his long time friend tossing the twisted pile of metal into the air.

"That is correct, Tug Mug. Now, go stand with Tycho in the middle of the room," Red Eye growled, producing his sidewinder.
 

A tall Royal Lunatak stepped forward from the shadows. He stood as close to six feet as a royal Lunatak got and was flanked by two fierce looking Guardians. "Greetings fair cousin. I welcome you to my new home, and the last place that you will ever see," the man said.

"Aristarchus. You put me down this instant!" Luna shrieked.

"I'm afraid that isn't possible. You see, this kingdom is mine. Your little friend over there," he began, indicating Tycho, "has already signed away any hold he might have on the throne. This leaves me with but one obstacle. You. The rightful queen of the Lunataks. I can't have that, I'm afraid. Krystalin, end the threat."
 

The room's ambient temperature seemed to drop drastically as a woman stepped forward. Although she was from the second moon, her body was covered in a thick crust of ice. As she walked on the warm deck plates, steam hissed into the air. Her body crackled with every movement. Luna was brought lower and placed in the centre of the long dining table. Krystalin raised one hand and fired a strange blue beam at the queen.
 

From his vantage point, slumped in a chair at the war table, Tycho could see Luna's face contort in pain and agony. Her skin changed from a pale purple to white. Then she ceased moving, her whole body glittering like ice.
 

"What have you done to her?" Tug Mug asked, shocked.

"I have altered her genetic structure. Turning ordinary cells into a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen in their most solid form. In laymen's terms, she has become an ice sculpture. She is, effectively, dead," Krystalin replied in a callous, dispassionate voice.

"Precisely. There is no known way of reversing the process, I'm afraid. The Lunar kingdom is mine!" Aristarchus bellowed. "Take them to the brig."
 

* * *
 

Alluro boarded the small shuttle, the one that was headed to the fourth moon, and took one of the seats. He wasn't quite sure who was piloting, or indeed who was joining him on the expedition. The only other Psis onboard were apparently headed elsewhere or staying on ship. Alluro shrugged. He was a decent pilot if he had to. The door hissed open and Psikaris, Psychro and Cameo entered. Cameo walked past them into the cockpit. "Uh, I thought you three were headed to the Ice Moon," Alluro stammered. None of the three said a word to him, they merely went about sealing the ship and taking off. Finally it was Psikaris who spoke.

"There's been a change of plans. We're all headed to the fourth moon, but you won't be in any condition to enjoy the experience," she said.

"When you touched 'Karis, turned her into some harem slave, you made the biggest mistake of your life," Psychro added.

"One that you will never forget," Cameo added, setting the ship to auto pilot.

"You aren't going to beat me, are you?" Alluro stammered.

"No, we're going to do much worse," Cameo said.
 

* * *
 

The ship landed in a vacant spot just outside the city limits. Only three people disembarked. The two men bore expressions of abject shock and horror. The woman looked relieved and triumphant. The trio walked a short distance to a hotel and booked a room for the night.
 

Alluro sat in a corner of the ship, his knees curled up against his chest as he rocked slightly. The things he had seen. The pain and agony of memories. It was too much for his brain to comprehend.
 

* * *
 

"Would one of you mind explaining what just happened?" Psychro asked.

"It's quite simple. Remember how I fell in love with Alluro and then he used me for his own personal desires?" Psikaris asked. Psychro nodded.

"Well, I compressed a year's worth of bottled up emotions into the span of about five minutes," Cameo said.

"What do you mean?" Psychro asked.

"Simply put, Alluro lived each moment of your sister's affections as though they were his own. The love, the yearning, the sadness, and ultimate heart break. All within five minutes," Cameo said.

"It was hard enough for me doing it for a year. But at least they only came one at a time," Psikaris said, "I can only imagine what that did to his brain."

"How did you do that though?" Psychro asked.
 

"It all started a month back. Lura and I were discussing the limits of her powers, in case I ever needed to borrow them. Then I learned that she was able to not only send thoughts into people's minds, but send emotions. It helped with story telling. Anyway. I got this idea that we should force Psikaris' emotions on Alluro, so he would know just how badly he'd hurt her. When I learned that the four of us would be taking a shuttle down I made an excuse to visit Lura and stole her powers. Apparently my plan worked."
 

Psychro's eyes widened. He could scarcely believe what he had just heard. Never before had such a thing even been considered. As usual, it was Psikaris that broke through his confusion.
 

"Brother. You're troubled. I think that what you need to do is go down to the bar and drink yourself out. When you recover everything will be fine," she said.

"Yeah. You go on ahead without us. I'm feeling bushed and think I'm going to hit the hay," Cameo replied, catching a wink from Psikaris. This seemed to snap Psychro fully out of his daze. The incidents passed were wiped clean from his brain. "Look, you two. You're forgetting whom you're dealing with. You want me to leave so you can have pure, unadulterated sex. You don't have to be subtle. I do understand. I'll be back in three hours. That should give you plenty of time," he said, leaving.
 

* * *
 

The bar itself wasn't too crowded. A few Psis wandered around, though most of the patrons were from the other races. In addition, there were cross breeds, Mutants and one Thunderian present. The latter was being shunned like there was no tomorrow, but the rest seemed to be getting along nicely. Psychro took a long pull of his beer and set the glass down on the counter.
 

"Tell me, which team are you rooting for?" a young woman asked, noting that Psychro was watching the Lunarball game going on on one of the television sets. "The Ice Moon Devil Warriors," Psychro replied.

"Really? How fascinating. I never liked them after they traded their quarterback, Sevilius, to the Graviton Mud Slingers," the woman replied.
 

Psychro turned to look at this strange creature who was obviously flirting with him. She seemed to be a half-breed, like himself, though what the races were he couldn't tell. She was definitely at least half Graviton herself. She was also, he noted, young. "Aren't you a little young to be in a bar Miss..." Psychro started.

"You can call me Rathja," she replied, "and I'm of legal drinking age."

"Nice to meet you, Rathja, but I feel I should let you know, you're not my type," Psychro replied, removing her hand from his shoulder.

"Oh come on, I'm not asking for much. Just make me a woman, that's all I need," she purred, rubbing gently against him.

"Look. I told you. I'm not interested. Good day," Psychro turned away and watched the television.

"I'll do anything you please. I'll be your little love slave," Rathja cooed.

"Rathja. If you promise to leave me alone and not tell anyone, I'll get it over with. I'll make you a 'woman' as you asked. But you gotta make it quick. I don't want to be doing this and am only doing it so that I can get back in time for the fourth quarter," Psychro said.

"Good, follow me then," Rathja smiled, leading him down the halls.
 

* * *
 

Psychro tapped his foot impatiently. For someone who wanted to 'get it on' she sure was taking her sweet time in undressing. His own clothes lay in a crumpled heap on the floor. Her back was to him and she fumbled at the buttons to her jacket. "Here. I've taken off my share of women's clothing, allow me," he said, turning her around. He would have cried out, if such a thing were possible. Rathja poked one finger into his bare chest and stepped back, smiling at her new statue. "You haven't changed a bit," she murmured. "You're old enough to be my father, and yet you still caved in quickly to the helpless yearnings of a woman. You'll be quite all right, until I figure out what to do with you. All I've done is readjust the gravity around you in such a way that you would have to fight extra strong gravity even to blink. You're my prisoner." Rathja produced a small communicator and was about to open it when she paused. "There's a reason for all this. You're old enough to be my father, because you are."
 

* * *
 

The fifth moon. Dark, mysterious and foreboding. Three words commonly used to describe it. The four travellers on this moon, however, felt none of these things. Greater things were on their minds. Joyous events yet to come.
 

"Well, traditionally the father of the bride and the husband do battle in a largely ceremonial contest to see who gets to keep the daughter. There are times when the mother of the husband faces the bride, but not usually," Chilla explained, as they walked.

"Really? So you would have to fight Red Eye, assuming we keep with those customs," Shade replied.
 

The quartet of Knave, Shade, Cheetalia and Chilla were planning the wedding of Knave and Shade. They had gotten married informally on the Skycruiser, with Mystan acting as interim priest. But, they both wanted something more official.
 

"I guess so," Knave replied, "those are the only traditions I ever really followed. I never figured this day would come."

"You are part Thunderian," Cheetalia mused, "you could follow our ways. The couple meets before the council to present their case as to why they should be allowed to marry. After careful deliberation, they may be named husband and wife. In this event they usually retire to one of the ceremonial houses for the night. Theoretically this will be the first time the two have had the chance to be alone together."

Shade looked down at the squirming bundle in her arms. Her daughter Eclipse. "Somehow I doubt that will be the case with us," she replied.

"Well, what about the Dark Lunataks?" Knave asked, "what are their customs?"

"Nothing special really. The couple is taken to a special grove and they sit and meditate for twenty-four hours. If, at the end of this period, they still wish to be married there is the light show. Lights of many different hues are cast down on them. Each light symbolizes something different. Some are good omens, others are not. The first light to hit them is said to reveal the past, the second is the future," Shade replied, trying to remember the weddings she had been to.

"Sounds like the two of you have quite a variety of customs to choose from," Chilla hissed.
 

As they rounded the corner of the long avenue, Shade stopped and breathed deeply. This was her old neighbourhood. Very little had changed in the five years since she had last been here. Five years since she had joined Tycho's royal guard. Six since her father had gone missing with the other Lunataks. It wasn't fair, really. She'd never had the chance while with the guard to take shore leave on the Dark Moon. She'd always been needed for some other duty, or else shore leave was elsewhere. But now, nothing would stop her from once more being in her mother's arms. To taste whatever delectable goody was cooling on the window sill. Eclipse seemed to sense her mother's joy and gurgled. "That's right, dearie, you get to meet your grandmother. She lives just over there," Shade smiled, pointing.
 

Knave's instincts were going wild. There was something he didn't like about that house, he could feel it in the core of his being. Glancing around at the others he caught sight of Cheetalia's expression. It mirrored his own. Chilla and Shade, however, seemed not to notice. "The stench of death and decay," Cheetalia informed Knave through telepathy, "something died there long ago and has been left to rot. I fear that we will not find Shade's mother within... Alive."
 

* * *
 

Taralon's eyes widened as he saw a collection of Lunataks approaching the house. Not just any house, but the one he was supposed to be watching. Lord Aristarchus had been here many years before and caused extensive damage to the inhabitants. He had also created the job of watching the house, knowing that some day "she" might return to it. His orders were simple. Apprehend her and any companions. They were traitors to the empire, friends of the upstart Tycho and enemies of Aristarchus. Taralon hit his communicator and called for a detachment of soldiers.
 

* * *
 

The door swung open with a loud creak. Shade was confused. Her mother had always been meticulous about both locking and oiling the door. Perhaps she had sunken into grief. She was also better at keeping the house clean. The stench suggested that meat had been left in the smoke house for years. But why? Surely she must have noticed. "In the name of all that is holy," Chilla murmured. Shade turned and followed Chilla's horror-struck gaze to what had been her old bedroom. On it a skeleton hung. A few scraps of dried flesh clung where they could, and blood smeared the ground. A note had been pinned to the skull and, though it was stained a dark purple as well, it was still legible.
 

"For the treachery of one Shade Twilight I hereby take the life of Dusk Twilight, her mother. Such is the fate of a traitor, to see all they hold dear destroyed, before being destroyed themselves. Beware, Shade!"
 

Knave caught Shade as she sank to the floor. Gently she rocked her crying infant, even as she was being rocked and soothed by her husband. "I don't understand. I talked to her quite often. Tycho always made sure of that. To make up for my not being able to come home," she whimpered.

"He must have known. Tried to shield all this from you. Remember Darius? It was probably he that you in fact spoke to," Cheetalia said, removing the body from the door.

"He lied to me. How dare he? I'll kill him for this. Both of them!" Shade snapped, tears streaming freely down her face.
 

"You in there! Come out and surrender to King Aristarchus or be killed on the spot," a voice from outside said.

"Somebody has very bad timing," Knave growled. "I wasn't in a good mood before this. I'm in even less of one now." Before anyone could stop him, not that it would have done them any good if they'd tried, he was down the stairs and outside. Cheetalia and Chilla followed close behind.
 

Shade moved to the window. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving Eclipse alone in a place of murder. This meant that she herself had to resist the urge to join in the fight. It didn't mean, however, that she couldn't act as an observer.
 

* * *
 

There were ten guards in all plus Captain Taralon. A standard Lunar squad. They had formed a ring around the door of the house, laser rifles trained on the door. The captain stood some short distance beyond the ring, glaring at the house with all his might. When the door flew open ten laser rifles strafed the spot just outside. About the only thing that saved Knave from falling instantly was his sharpened senses. He had heard the weapons powering up and suspected the tactic. Thus, he had dived over the beams and come up fighting. His icepick flew forward with relative ease and caught one man in the throat. The man beside him felt his entire body becoming a solid block of ice.
 

For all his vaunted fighting prowess and Cheetah like speed, the incomparable Knave couldn't hold out forever against ten men, now eight, with stun rifles and their captain. One quick blast grazed his leg, while a second caught him in the small of the back. The remaining six shots went wide. Each guard's second attack, however, connected.
 

Then came the reenforcements. Cheetalia, followed by Chilla emerged into the inky blackness of the Dark Moon, weapons and powers ready. A gout of flame lit up the sky, temporarily blinding the Darklings. Then it was Cheetalia's turn. Her twin billy clubs collided firmly with one of the stunned guard's skulls, and shattered another's knee cap. "Keep firing!" the captain shouted, reaching for his pistol. He might have gotten it too, had a stream of ice not bound his hand to his leg.
 

With Chilla's attention on the captain, one of the guards took aim with his rifle and sent a carefully controlled stun blast into the Ice Lunatak's neck. The remaining five guards found that Cheetalia was easy enough to beat when they overwhelmed her. The captain used his free hand to produce his communicator. "Taralon to Aristarchus. We've got them. Beam us up to the Excelsior," he said.
 

* * *
 

Shade crouched in the small room she'd chosen as a hiding spot. Aristarchus? The Excelsior? Wasn't that Tycho's ship? Of course, he was probably in on the scheme to begin with. It made sense, didn't it? He'd killed her mother after all, or covered it up. She wished Nightshade were still alive. She'd know exactly what to do. There really was only one thing to do as it was. Rescue the others.
 

* * *
 

Tug Mug looked up as booted feet walked down the hall. Six guards, dragging those who had been on the Dark Moon, approached. The three new captives were placed in a cell across the hall. He, Amok and Tycho had been placed in one, while Psychro, Psikaris and Cameo had been deposited in yet another. The last two had been red faced and been given long red robes to wear due to their other clothes being lost at some point. Psychro too had been granted clothing and had been released from his frozen state. Strangely Lura and Mystan had not been found, nor had Alluro. Tug Mug filled the new arrivals in on what had happened.
 

Chilla leaned against the far wall, her neck stung like anything. "I've heard of people like Krystalin before," she said. "Luna's dead. There's no doubt in my mind. The war academy on the Ice Moon has been searching for a way to reverse the process with no luck."
 

Tug Mug snapped his fingers. He hadn't really been thinking about it earlier, but now that the wheels in his brain were starting to churn, he remembered. "Wait a meenute. Loona's not dead!" The others, except Psychro who was still frozen in place, turned to him.

"What do you mean? If Luna lives, the empire can be saved!" Tycho said, making sure that the guards were out of ear shot.

"No, no, no. Red Eye and Loona were supposed to go to Tycho's sheep. I was at thee controls. Suddenlee Darius and Loora come een and ask to speek weeth her een private. Red Eye was looking at some read outs, but I saw what happeened next. They talked briefly, and then Loona and Darius sweetched places. That's when I was told to go eenstead," Tug Mug said.

"That's great news!" Psikaris said. "That means we can still pay back Aristarchus and have a proper queen."
 

Tycho's eyes began watering. Amok ambled over and placed one massive paw on his shoulder. "That's all well and good for the empire, but if Luna is safe, then that means that Darius is... is dead," he said, patting the paw gently.
 

The others were stunned into silence. They knew how much Darius meant to Tycho. There was realistically nothing much they could say. Chilla, for one, suspected that Darius might be able to survive any change back from ice to flesh, due to his changeling nature. But such optimism would be wasted on Tycho at the moment. "We'll get the bastards," Knave murmured. "We'll beat down Aristarchus, for Darius. His sacrifice will not be in vain."
 

Tycho looked up. Support from an unlikely source. But, in order to prove Knave right, they had to get out of the cell, and into the rest of the ship. "Wait a minute, Knave. You're right. And I think I know how to get us free so we can take our revenge. Lunar Blade! Come to me as quietly and cautiously as you can!" Tycho said, firmly.
 

* * *
 

The Lunar Blade rested comfortably in its scabbard propped up against the wall a little distance away. It heard the call of its master and drifted up. "I come," it seemed to sing. With that, it flew through the grill of the door, paused, and went down a small corridor. The sword ducked into a side room as a drunken guard with an equally drunken man draped over her arm wandered by. They probably wouldn't have noticed a flying sword, but better to play it safe. The Lunar Blade proceeded down several more halls and elevator shafts before arriving at the cell block. This would be the tricky part. It had to wait for the guards' attention to be elsewhere. A die fell to the floor and bounced into a crack. The four guards began fumbling for it, allowing Tycho and the Lunar Blade to be reunited.
 

* * *
 

"Now then. Lunar Blade. We're going to need some help around here. You can pick up on the thoughts and feelings of my people, but I wonder if you can do things the other way around. I command you to put me in direct mental link up with Lura," Tycho said. The Lunar Blade, had it a mouth, would have smirked at the tone in its master's voice. He was learning that there were many secrets hidden within this weapon. Telepathy was just one of them.
 

* * *
 

Lura and Mystan were helping Luna into a specially designed droid. It would allow Luna some semblance of moving around at a good clip, while keeping her inconspicuous. "Remember, Luna. The legends only hint that the process worked. There's no way of knowing whether any of the Lunar suspension capsules actually survived the two thousand year journey," Mystan said. He was referring to a small group of heroes who had been the cornerstones against the evil Tar'Unt'Tar several thousand years ago. A prophet of the time told them that they would one day be needed again. A team of scientists placed them in suspension capsules and scattered them across the empire.
 

"I am well aware of that. But I want Aristarchus to pay. Luckily you had the common sense to put a video hook up in Amok's saddlebags," Luna said.

"Lura?" a voice asked. The engineer paused, wondering if she had heard correctly. It spoke again. "Lura. It's me. Tycho."

"What's going on Lura?" the Queen snapped.

"It's Tycho. He's calling me via telepathy... Tycho, I'm here. What is it?" Lura replied.

"We're moments away from breaking out of here," Tycho replied.

"They're going to break out," Lura reported.

"No! That will ruin everything. Luna will need all the time she can get," Mystan said.

"Tycho. Mystan says that you should wait. Luna's going to try and revive some of the heroes of old. He mentioned that there were two in cold storage on board the Excelsior," Lura said.

"Yes. In the sub levels. When you're on board, I'll send the Lunar Blade to help you. She might need it," Tycho said. Then, all was silent.
 

* * *
 

"So you see, Red Eye. The empire is mine now. Nothing can stop me," Aristarchus said, placing one arm around his long time ally's shoulders. The pair were on the bridge of their new ship. On the monitors, the Skycruiser drifted slowly as shuttle crafts bustled to and from the moons and other ships. "It feels good to be back at your side," Red Eye replied.
 

Although none of the other Lunataks really knew the truth, Red Eye was a high-ranking officer loyal to Aristarchus. He had been planted among Queen Luna's crew with the hopes that he himself would find the opportunity to kill her. It hadn't happened. One of the others always seemed to get in the way. Now, it didn't matter. Luna was dead, and good riddance.
 

"Indeed Red Eye. Under Luna, the empire was corrupt and chaotic. Under Tycho, fractured and divided. But under me, it shall be strong and united. Ready to crush the Thunderians, the Plundarrians and all who dare oppose us," Aristarchus said.

"King Aristarchus. The reporters are here as you requested," a young Psi named Sedrel reported, touching his headset.

"Excellent. Have Prince Tycho escorted to the throne room. We might as well make this official," Aristarchus said.
 

* * *
 

Luna glanced around nervously in her droid outfit. Sure, Tycho's ship was used to strange creatures roaming around in it, but the crew had never seen anything quite like her before. They would stop and pat it on the head, if she was lucky. Two rambunctious Dark Lunataks had tried tipping her over, to no avail. Luna shrugged. So this was what it was like for the common folk, eh?
 

The lower levels of the Excelsior were sparsely kept. Very few people cleaned this area, and the state of disrepair and filth got worse as one progressed toward the room where the two stasis pods were being kept. When she got there, Luna found the Lunar Blade hovering in midair. It would have been tapping its foot if it had one. As it was, it merely waited for Luna to grasp it in her tiny hands. The queen closed her eyes and began reciting the passage that her father had taught her, in the event the heroes were ever needed again. "Los antepasados antiguos del restauran a este guerrero a la vida," she said.
 

At first nothing happened. Then the milky fog of the stasis pods began seeping out through the cracks along the sides. This fog soon dissipated into nothing, revealing the figure standing inside each pod.
 

The man in the right-hand pod was a Psi Lunatak. He wore a simple outfit of grey leggings and some armour to cover his torso. In addition he wore a white tabard with the Lunatak crest emblazoned on it. At his side rested a sword that seemed to crackle with magical energy.
 

The other pod contained a woman with short cropped red hair. She appeared to be an Ice Lunatak, apart from the hair. Her outfit was a kind of jumpsuit consisting of varying hues of reds and golds. The jumpsuit, if it could be called such, had no sleeves past the elbow or leggings past the knee. She too wore the Lunatak crest, though hers were tattooed into the backs of each hand. At her side was a nasty looking whip with barbs on the end.
 

The man woke first and stumbled forward. "Who has freed me from my pod?" he asked, somewhat irked.

"I am Queen Luna, and I have need of you two," the Royal Lunatak replied.

"The Lunar Blade! My word, I have not seen that since I was a boy. Which was probably a long time ago. I don't recall any Queen Lunas around in my day," the man said.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're two and half thousand years in the future," Luna said.

"What? How can this be? What has happened?" the man replied.

"There's no time to explain. What's taking your friend so long?" Luna snapped.

"Jasrune? I don't know? One moment and I'll check," the strange man said.

"Are you going to tell me your name, or shall I guess?" Luna said, impatiently tapping her foot.
 

The stranger hung his head and turned around. He knelt on the ground, though he still loomed over his queen. "My most humble apologies, my queen. My name is Boron Stormhammer, and it is I who have bad news to bear. Jasrune, slayer of the forty thieves, is dead. She is a fire walker. The extreme cold must have been too great a stress on her system," he said. "But I pledge myself to honour her memory by acting as bravely as she and I put together."
 

Luna paused. Fire Walkers? What were they? Could it be that there had been a sixth moon of Plundarr? One that had been destroyed or lost somehow? Hypothetically it was possible. She'd never paid much attention to astronomy. But, there were pressing concerns, like Aristarchus.
 

* * *
 

Shade looked around the throne room, Eclipse securely nestled in a sack on the floor. She had gotten lucky when she had seen one of the reporters, destined for the Excelsior, lounging around outside. Assuming his place hadn't been a problem with the right amount of money thrust in his face. The rest of the crew hadn't seemed to mind about the last minute replacement, being too concerned with this big press conference that Tycho and Aristarchus were holding. Now, they were all busily setting things up, awaiting the entrances of the guests of honour.
 

* * *
 

Aristarchus stopped Tycho just outside the curtain leading into the throne room. They were more or less alone in there, apart from a few guards standing out of earshot. "Remember. Your friends are my hostages. The tiniest blunder on your part will send them to their early graves," Aristarchus whispered harshly, grabbing the smaller man's shoulder. "Do you understand?" Tycho nodded. What else was there he could do? He was smaller than the other man, and couldn't possibly hope to win any kind of contest of strength or power with him. All he could do was hope the rest of his friends wouldn't end up like Darius.
 

* * *
 

The camera zoomed in on the curtain as Tycho, followed by Aristarchus, entered the room. The young prince looked like he hadn't slept in days, his eyes were red and slightly swollen. Aristarchus, on the other hand, appeared quite smug and satisfied as he took his seat. Tycho stood at the podium. The camera inched closer and the mike squealed loudly.
 

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press. I cannot begin to tell you how much I am pleased to see you all here today. As you know, the throne of the Lunar empire has rested on two sets of shoulders. Mine, and those of my compatriot. We have warred with each other for over a decade with neither one of us coming anywhere near a victory. Today, however, things will change. For today, I relinquish the throne and surrender to Aristarchus," Tycho said. There were stunned gasps from among the crowd. "This is not a complete defeat for me, however. The terms we agreed to should prove quite beneficial to me, and will restore the empire to peace. How it should be. It is a position that Aristarchus will fill well, until Queen Luna returns once more." This time it was Aristarchus' turn to gasp. He glared at Tycho, as if to ask what he was up to, and stood to make his speech.
 

"Friends. My new found ally here has spoken truthfully. I too long for the day that Queen Luna returns. I long to see us ruled by a fist, however tiny it is, that is strong and just. Until that time, I will rule according to how she would want me to rule," he began.
 

* * *
 

Mystan glanced beside him at Luna. She had discarded the Lunar Droid outfit in favour of being toted around on Boron's shoulder. Mystan had slipped aboard with one of the scanning crews, who had once again failed to find any crew members on board, and joined up with his queen here. "Now," she whispered, gesturing for Mystan to open the large doors wide and permit her entry.
 

* * *
 

"That won't be necessary, dear cousin. I'm back," Luna said, capturing the attention of everyone in attendance. Luna nearly smirked. People rarely took notice of her. She was, admittedly, short and not possessing great looks. Now, however, not a single eye wavered from her body.

"What? How is this possible?" Aristarchus stammered.

"You thought I was dead perhaps?" Luna sneered, urging Boron to step further into the room.
 

"Your plan was nearly perfect, but you made one small mistake. After Tycho spoke with us we all thought we were headed to a wonderful banquet. You had each and every one of us convinced, well, nearly everyone. Darius. He's been with Tycho forever, recognized the signs that he was under pressure. It was he who first suspected treachery. It was he whom you turned to ice in my stead. You have failed, Aristarchus, and now you will die," Luna said.

"You're wrong, Luna. Right now there are only three people able to take the Lunar throne. Tycho has recanted all claim to the throne, leaving only two. Once you're dead, for real this time, there will be only one," Aristarchus said.
 

The primal forces of nature, even artificially created nature, flowed through Aristarchus' body. He raised his arms and snapped them forward. Bolts of lightning rocketed through his fingertips with one aim in mind. To kill Luna. They might have hit too, were it not for Tycho throwing himself onto Aristarchus' back. "Quick! Nullify Luna and her companions!" Aristarchus shouted.
 

The guards stood confused. Luna was their queen, but Aristarchus was the one paying them. This made things much more difficult. Ultimately, though, the choice of which side to join was taken out of their hands, as Mystan swept them off their feet and sent them through a side door. "That should hold them," he murmured.
 

Reporters, as a general rule, aren't stupid. They weigh the value of getting a really good story against their odds of snuffing it in trying to get it. The reporters that had been summoned were no different. They saw their exit chance, and took it. All except one. She shouted a valiant war cry and plunged through the teaming mob to get at Aristarchus' captain of the guards. Taralon.
 

Boron sighed. He hated this. Combat among Lunataks had been common in his day, they were a volatile people, but the Royals had never been like this. Fighting amongst each other for the throne, with so many pawns thrown in between. His instincts told him that he had chosen the right side to fight for, but how could he be sure? He had only just been thawed a few short moments ago. His mighty sword, the Lunar Defender, swung in a tight arc, blocking an electrical blast from Aristarchus. Once more he cursed his powers. They could not be used to directly harm a kinsman. Indirectly harming another was touchy. He'd never quite figured out why his powers worked the way they did. He just adapted. A chair telekinetically raised itself into the air and was flung in Aristarchus' direction, and shattered against the podium.
 

* * *
 

Shade jumped the few remaining feet between herself and Taralon. Here was the man who had taken away her Knave. The man who had no doubt beaten him severely once they'd gotten him onboard. Her fists railed down upon the man's head, beating him into unconsciousness.
 

* * *
 

"Enough of these parlour games. My men may be weak and helpless, but I am not," Aristarchus snapped, throwing Tycho violently against the far wall. He gestured at Mystan and spoke a smattering of words in the ancient tongue of the wizards. Mystan clutched at his back and cried out in pain. It felt like someone had just torn his spinal column from his body. He collapsed on the floor from shock.
 

Boron and Luna were next. The deck plates became the consistency of quicksand. Slowly and painfully Boron began sinking through the floor, until Aristarchus stopped the process, leaving half of Boron dangling through the ceiling of the deck below.
 

"And now, last but not least. Shade. You, I will give the chance at redemption. Join me like your father did," Aristarchus said, telekinetically grabbing the woman and turning her around to face him.

"I refused you once, and you murdered my mother. I have nothing left to lose," Shade snapped.

"Oh? But I think you do. I hear a child crying, your child. How easy it would be to extinguish that child forever," Aristarchus said.
 

Shade struggled valiantly against her invisible bonds. "You wouldn't dare," she growled. "I'd sooner die myself than allow you to lay one finger on my daughter's head."

"All in due time. Trust me. You will die," Aristarchus snickered.
 

Red Eye had remained silent and immobile throughout the fight. Not out of cowardice or fear, but out of confusion over his loyalties. His master was fighting his daughter. As he listened more closely, he became more confused. His wife had been murdered? Now Aristarchus was threatening to do the same to his grand daughter? He could not remain an observer any longer. He stepped forward, his sidewinder ready, and fired a lethal barrage of energy blasts into the prince's unprotected back, vaporizing him.
 

* * *
 

Tycho, along with the others, sat in a small lounge just outside the medical lab. Aristarchus' men had all either fled or been captured. There was no word as to the whereabouts of either Rathja or Krystalin, but both were wanted desperately by the police. Red Eye had been placed in a holding cell, pending a decision by Luna as to his fate.
 

The door hissed open and Psikaris emerged once more. She snapped her rubber gloves off of her hands and reluctantly faced Tycho. "I'm sorry. There's nothing more I can do," she said.

"What do you mean? You can't have tried everything. What about his changeling blood? Didn't that save him?" Tycho said, grabbing her by the shoulders.

"I have. There's never been a way to reverse the effects. There never will. I'm afraid he's dead," Psikaris sighed, hanging her head sadly.
 

"Liar!" Tycho shouted, backing off. "You killed him. You let him die on that operating table. You're a murderer! Guards, I order you to open fire on Psikaris! Do it! Are you all deaf? I said kill her!" Tycho stormed over to one of the puzzled guards and grabbed his pistol. "If you won't do it, I will. All traitors to the Lunatak empire must die!" His hand shook as he pointed the weapon at Psikaris' forehead, a look of resignation upon her face. Psychro and Cameo were being restrained by Knave and Chilla.
 

"No you won't, Tycho. Drop the weapon," Luna said, moving closer.

"But she..." Tycho began.

"Drop the weapon. She clearly did all that she could do. Darius is dead," Luna said.
 

* * *
 

Tycho padded softly over to the bed upon which Darius lay, in his natural form. Psikaris had been able to do that much, turn him back to flesh. Just not revive him. Gently he lifted one limp hand and held it tightly.
 

"This isn't fair. It wasn't supposed to end like this. We were supposed to live together forever. Now, I don't know. You're gone, and I'm still here. Alone, without guidance or friendship. It's a cold, hard world out there, and you served to keep me warm. You weren't supposed to die. Not like this, not now. It was supposed to be years from now, with you jumping in front of me to take a bullet, the next one killing me. Then we'd be together forever, perfectly content. I don't know what I'm going to do," Tycho said.