Lunar Showdown 6: Epilogue

 

      "Wherezh thee guy who blew my sheep all to hellzh?"  It was two days after Luna had been declared the new Moonqueen ( though the official coronation wasn't for a couple days. )  With Tycho's base a wreck, Luna had commandeered Aristarchus' ship Goliath.  The drunk had stormed into the mess-hall with a bottle in one hand and a blonde in the other.  "It wazh thee Stormhammer, out above thee Fourth Moon."

 

      Alluro groaned inwardly, realizing who the drunk was talking about.  The ship he was serving on, the Cold Vengeance, had been near-destroyed by the Stormhammer, and Alluro had rigged an escape pod into a bomb.  He slouched down slightly in the mess-hall seat, and hoped the drunk would just go away.

 

      But, apparently someone pointed him out, because a few minutes later, the Stormhammer captain plunked himself down at Alluro's table.

 

      The hypnotist looked up with a sense of impending dread.  The man was large, a hopeless mix of the Lunatac races ( at least half graviton, though his size and colouring spoke of darkling, sandweller, and elyon ancestry ), and quite drunk.  A blonde sandweller woman also pulled up a seat, then recaptured her companion's arm.  "You the one?" demanded the drunk.

 

      "Terribly sorry, but it was self-defence..."

 

      The drunk laughed and reached across the table to slap Alluro on the shoulder.  "Whatcha 'pologizheeng for?  Great treeck.  Could use a smart guy like you on thee Stormhammer.  I'm Captain Kigrevan.  Thees here's Merzhansee."

 

      Merzhansi smiled.  "What my illustrious captain is trying to say in his besotted stupor is that he wants to hire you."

 

      "I'll... consider it," Alluro said, rather surprised that he actually meant it.  "I've a couple other options to consider."

 

      "No rush," said Merzhansi.  "Come along, Ki.  You've made enough of a spectacle of yourself already."  With difficulty, she hauled the captain to his feet.

 

      "Nag," he accused, then back to Alluro, "You theenk eet over, you hear?  You wreck my sheep, only fair that you geet stuck on permanent feex-eet duty.  Haw haw!"  Before he could cause more trouble, Merzhansi dragged Kigrevan out.

 

      Alluro smiled.  First the Cold Vengeance wanted to keep him on, now this.  Either post could be his if he decided not to get into engine design with Psikaris.  Luna had never appreciated his genius like this.  It's not home, he thought, but I could certainly get used to the Moons.

 

* * *

 

      Cameo yawned, stretched, found his movements somewhat restricted, and smiled when he remembered the reason.  He and Psikaris hadn't actually done anything, but that was more due to the fact that he knew he shouldn't, rather than lack of interest.  But she looked just too cute in pyjamas, so he supposed that counted for something.

 

      He moved away slightly so he could look at her, and found her looking back.  "Sorry, 'Karis.  Did I wake you up?"

 

      She yawned and blinked a few times.  "Probably.  What time is it?"  She twisted around to look at the clock.  "A whole five minutes before my alarm goes off.  Well, if it was my clock and if I had to get up this morning."  She turned back to snuggle against Cameo.  "I am never letting you out of my sight again."

 

      "Ah, 'Karis?.."  Not that he had anything against the sentiment - he held the same convictions - but she was doing something extremely distracting with her hands...  Damn it, he had been warned about this, but it was much easier to agree to behave like a gentleman than to actually do so.  Difficult as it was, he snatched up her hands to stop her.

 

      Psikaris looked annoyed at him, and slightly... frightened?, and tried to free herself.  "But, Cameo, I want to..."

 

      This woman is going to be the death of me.  "Believe me, 'Karis, I don't like turning you down.  But I have to, for your own good.  Your brother said..."

 

      "He what!?" Psikaris snapped, snatching her hands back from him and getting out of bed.  "That meddling, hypocritical..." she continued to mutter general abuse as she scooped up her uniform from where she had left it on a chair, and locked herself in the bathroom.

 

      Cameo was still trying to cope with Psikaris' sudden anger when she emerged fully dressed, and left with barely a look in his direction.  He was about to chase her when he realized that he might look a bit of an idiot if he was seen running around the halls in his pyjamas.

 

* * *

 

      "I told him about you, 'Karis."  Psychro looked tired, which was strange for him.  Of course, he had likely just woken up.

 

      "You what!?" Psikaris shouted at her brother.  "Why?"

 

      "He had to know.  Otherwise he might have hurt you accidentally.  And it's about time you faced it."  There was a knock at the door.  "That'll be him.  He called a few minutes ago and warned me you'd come a-knocking."  Psychro got up from where he was leaning against the table and opened the door.

 

      Psikaris looked over at the icewalker, then turned back to glare at her brother, who sat down again.  Cameo stepped forward then, putting an arm low around her shoulders.  The gesture was meant to comfort rather than confine; Psikaris could step out of the embrace at any time.  Instead she curled towards him, burying her face in his shoulder.  Cameo used his other hand to lightly stroke her hair.  Psikaris whispered, "How much did he tell you?"

 

      "All of it," Cameo replied quietly.  "About Khrythan.  And I know how you try to use your body to keep those you love."  Cameo held her a bit tighter.  "I know you love me, 'Karis.  You don't need to prove it.  But I need to prove to you that my love is genuine."

 

      "I know it is," replied Psikaris, slightly muffled.

 

      "Then why did you try to get him to sleep with you?"

 

      Psikaris turned roughly to glare at her brother.  "What business of that is yours?"

 

      Psychro stood up and glared back.  "Because you do it because you think it's the only way you can keep him.  You don't even like it."

 

      "How the hells would you know that!?"

 

      "I asked Alluro."

 

      "You what!??"

 

      "I asked Alluro," Psychro repeated, a bit slower and louder.  "I threatened to freeze his limbs one at a time and shatter them as he watched if he didn't talk."

 

      "You asked Alluro."

 

      "I was checking up on a hunch," said Psychro, "And I was right.  According to our friendly neighbourhood hypnotist, while you enjoy the kissing and cuddling beforehand, when it comes to intercourse itself you - pardon the term - freeze up.  Alluro didn't really notice at the time, but he was busy.  However, he spent quite a bit of time afterward thinking about it, mostly looking for any tip-offs that should have told him you weren't actually Chilla."

 

      "You meddling..."

 

      Psychro ignored the protest, continuing, "Much as you loved him, you weren't ready to sleep with him.  But you offered on a few more occasions.  Why?  Because you thought it would cause him to love you.  Instead of appealing to his mind or emotions, you tried the physical route.  Why?  Because you don't know any better."  The ice hybrid sighed, then sat down again.  "I know I sound like a hypocrite.  I'm not.  What I do has nothing to do with commitment.  You, on the other hand, want stability and love.  You just don't know how to ask."

 

      He stood up again.  "Look, I'm done my speech for today and am going to go get myself plastered.  'Karis, Cameo can take care of you.  He's all the stability and love you need.  Just let him.  Cameo..."  Psychro paused at the door.  "Just keep doing what you've been doing."  He left.

 

* * *

 

      "Your butt needs a tune-up!?  I'm a doctor, not an engineer!  Get out of my infirmary!"

 

      Mystan chuckled slightly at Lura's blustering, and at the familiar 'whirr' of Tug-Mug's wheels as he retreated before the nurse's wrath.  "Weirdo.  I've heard subtler pick-up lines from drunken robot pirates."

 

      "You won't take this out on me, I hope," Mystan asked, leaning against the doorframe.

 

      "What are you doing out of bed?  I don't care what kind of big war-hero you are, I spent ninety minutes treating your burns, and I'm not letting my work go to waste!"

 

      "Nurse Lura, I have two days to brief Queen Luna on her duties..."

 

      "Fear not, Mystan.  I have been doing so."  The newcomer walked past Lura as if she wasn't there.

 

      Something about the steel-gray sandweller immediately set Mystan on edge.  "Who are you?"

 

      He bowed slightly.  "Tanthas Loraelin.  I used to work for Aristarchus.  I've been filling in for you during your absence."  Before Mystan could think of a properly blistering reply, the other man swept off.

 

      Lura watched him leave, then turned back to Mystan.  "Tycho couldn't stand him either.  I don't know why."

 

      "Could I possibly speak with Tycho?"

 

      "I let him out yesterday; there was nothing wrong with him.  I'll send for him if you like."

 

* * *

 

      Sometimes Psychro wished his alcohol tolerance wasn't so high.  When he wanted to get drunk, it took far too long.  He was still depressingly sober when he heard a disgusted sniff behind him.

 

      The ice hybrid un-sprawled himself on the couch so he could see behind him.  Luna and Amok.  Amok looked blank as always, while Luna's little nose was wrinkled in distaste.  Psychro thought the expression was adorable, and decided he was slightly more drunk than he thought.  He held up the bottle invitingly.  "Luna.  Care for a drink?"

 

      She sniffed at him again.  "I don't drink, and I especially don't drink what someone like you would drink.  What's the occasion?"

 

      "I," he said, pouring himself another glass, "have just returned from giving brotherly advice to 'Karis."

 

      "Pfft."

 

      "Don't do as I do, do as I say."  Then, "If you don't drink, what are you doing down here?"

 

      Luna scowled.  "I don't engage in drinking that anyone knows about.  Make yourself useful; it's the purple bottle in the third cupboard."  Amok set his mistress in a chair, then settled himself beside it.

 

      Psychro got up and found the indicated liquor.  "Does Her Majesty have a special glass, or will one of the commoners' do?" he smirked.

 

      "One of the small glasses.  I don't need much."

 

      That made sense.  Little Luna would have a low tolerance due to her size.  The thought of Luna drunk was funny, until he decided she'd probably sing.  Psychro finished filling out the order, then plunked back down on the couch.  He raised his glass in mock salute and asked, "What's the occasion?"

 

      "I'm going to be the official Moonqueen in two days and I don't want to think about it," Luna replied.  "Does this have to do with Cameo?" she asked, indicating the bottle and switching back to the earlier subject.

 

      "Of course.  He'll be good for her, if he keeps his hands to himself."

 

      "Hypocrite."

 

      Psychro glared, leaning across the coffee table and pointing a claw at Luna's nose.  "Look you, I took up being a slimeball to protect 'Karis.  So she wouldn't be hurt again."  He sank back into his seat sullenly.  "I know what I'm doing."

 

      "You're drunk."

 

      "I may be drunk, but you are short, and in the morning I will be sober.  Go away, goblin, I'm trying to drown my worries in medium-cost alcohol."

 

      Luna bristled at the insult, but as usual held Amok back from thrashing the hybrid.  Curious, and deciding that Psychro was as loquacious as he was going to get, Luna asked, "What do you mean 'again'?"

 

      "I mean," said Psychro, swirling the contents of his glass, "exactly what I said.  You know how easily 'Karis trusts people."  Luna nodded.  "Well, there was this guy called Khrythan.  Good-looking fellow, seemed nice enough.  'Karis fell all over herself for him.  Things seemed fine.  Until Khrythan pulled the old 'if you really love me, you'll sleep with me, and if you don't love me I'm leaving' shtick."

 

      "And she told you, because she tells you everything," Luna said, nodding.  Then, "What did happen to Khrythan?  Dead, I assume."

 

      "I didn't kill him," replied Psychro flatly, then more animated, "Though I don't think he was ever able to walk again."

 

      "And you decided to set a bad example so Psikaris would avoid dating again?" Luna asked.  "That's... just weird."

 

      "Hey, whatever works."

 

* * *

 

      Down on the Moon's surface, Darius, Chilla, and Knave wandered the halls of what was still referred to as Tycho's base.  Clean-up and repairs had started, and Tycho had declared it Darius' job to find a new use for it.  Darius decided to hand it over to Chilla so she could have a base of operations for her ice warriors.

 

      Something caught Darius' attention, so he wandered off to fix the perceived problem.  Knave smiled at his half-sister.  "It looks like things are finally starting to go right for you."

 

      Chilla smiled back.  "Indeed.  However, even though we're no longer on Third Earth, we're still stuck with Luna as our leader."

 

      "Ahh, she'll be too busy dealing with the Empire to deal with you."

 

      "You mean 'us'."

 

      "Maybe," said Knave.  "Much as I want to stay with you, I was thinking of going back to the Shalgi Dusaii to continue being a fighter pilot.  I'll stay here for a while, at least."

 

* * *

 

      Tycho explained what he knew of Tanthas, then asked, "Fearing for your job?"

 

      "Something about the man bothers me," Mystan said, though the question struck a nerve.  Tanthas was caught up on current events, while Mystan only knew the traditions.  "I tried to pull rank on Lura to let me out, but she threatened to tie me down.  The woman is incorrigible."

 

      "She's also very good at her job."

 

      Which meant Tycho wasn't going to spring him from the medlab.  "Tell me what's been happening.  Lura's too busy to talk, but she won't let me leave."

 

      "Your crew has split up," said the young prince.  "Luna and her guardian will be going to the Third Moon, Red-Eye and Shade will take the Skytomb to the Dark Moon, Chilla and her brother are staying in the base below, Tug-Mug wanted to go to the First Moon, I will remain on board the Goliath, as will Darius, Psikaris, and Cameo.  Neither Alluro nor Psychro have yet finalized their plans.  I can't speak for you, but I assume you're going with Luna."

 

      "Indeed I shall, once Lura releases me from her clutches," grumbled Mystan.  "Hopefully in time for the coronation."

 

      "I'll pull rank on her myself if I have to," Tycho promised.  "As for Tanthas, I don't trust him either.  More, I did a background check on him.  Or tried to; as far as I can tell, he doesn't exist."

 

      "Get me a computer connection in here and I will find him," Mystan replied.  "It's not like I've anything else to do in here."

 

 

The End.

 

 

Back to Fanfic Archive