The Enemy  Part 6
By valerafon
An earth man and an alien woman battle on a distant planet.


This work of fiction should not be read by anyone under the age of 18. Please
do not read further if you are offended by graphic violence and sexual
content.

Chapter Six: Convergence

Bannon had reached the great plain by mid-morning. He struggled forward
sometimes running, sometimes walking at a very fast pace, but always he willed
his body to keep moving forward. He knew where he was going, but his mind
never dwelled on it for long because the pain in his shoulder and exhaustion
of his effort clouded his mind.

Still, he struggled forward, never stopping, never allowing himself even a
moment of rest. Instinctively, he knew his adversary would need no rest. She
would come on relentlessly till she cornered him, and ended it. A grim smile
appeared on Bannon’s face as he struggled forward and thought about her. She
was more like a machine than a human being. Then his smile faded as he
realized his error. He shook his head to clear his mind of the numbing pain.
He must never make that mistake again. The mistake of thinking of her as
human. It had almost cost him his life. She wasn’t human at all, but as her
beautiful image filled his mind completely, he asked himself, what was she?

Slowly her image faded and he thought of the final battle once more. His pain
racked body was taking him to the place where that battle would be fought. It
was simple logic. If he was going to have any chance of survival, the final
battle would have to be soon for his reserves were almost gone. He knew time
was on her side. His smile returned when he realized that all the advantages
were on her side.

With great effort, he willed the pain from his mind once more and it left him
with a brief respite to think and to plan. As he thought of that place once
again, and his desperate scheme, it seemed so simple, almost ridiculously
simple. Did it have any chance of succeeding or was the pain and exhaustion
just clouding his mind?

But the idea had always been with him. He had thought of it on the Wheel and
prepared for it with the things he had chosen. From the first, he knew it was
an outrageous ploy. Something that would be tried only if the situation had
deteriorated beyond his control. As the pain began to creep back into his mind
once more, he knew it was his last best chance for victory.

Still, "The Ploy" was so outrageously simple. Bannon’s smile returned as he
realized that and followed it to its logical conclusion. And, as if to
reinforce that thought in his own mind, he said out loud, "Sometimes, the
simplest plans are the most cleaver."

No matter, as he thought about his beautiful and powerful adversary once more,
and all her skills and attributes, he realized that it was not only his best
chance for survival, it was his only chance.

The cool morning breezes had given way to the searing heat of mid day, and the
two suns were now high overhead. He hadn’t stopped since he awoke from that
strange dream many hours before, and he knew instinctively that his adversary
hadn’t stopped in her pursuit of him either.

Every so often, he would look back even as he plunged forward. His eyes
straining to see the tell tale black dot that would be his adversary. When he
looked, he felt something strangely unfamiliar grab hold of him. Was it fear?
He realized with pride that that was an emotion alien to his being. No, it was
an emotion more like profound regret.

Still, that new feeling was real and it disturbed him. His mind had always
been clear and calm devoid of any emotion. It was his most important survival
trait. Then why now had this poisonous emotion crept into his mind? He had
been in dozens of life and death situations before. Was this one any more
deadly?

No, there was another reason. For the first time in his life, his life
mattered. He wanted to live with every fiber of his being, but why? His
fiancée and father were dead on mars these many years, and he had taken care
of his only friend in the world, Bixby. Then, why now did he want to live? Did
this struggle somehow give his life meaning? Even though he was afraid of the
answer he might find, his mind searched for a solution to his question. At
first, his mind could find none. As he continued to search, slowly a beautiful
image started to form in his mind and he stopped searching for an answer and
focused on the image.

It was a familiar one. It was the image of his beautiful adversary as she rode
forward on the unicorn. Her red hair blowing in the wind with that same proud
provocative look on her face as if she was the queen of the universe and
nothing or no one could defy her. As he beheld her in his mind’s eye, his
image of her lengthened and he could now see her entire body. It was an
awesome sight. Her proud defiant breasts jutting out defying gravity even as
the rest of her Amazonian body defied many of the other laws of nature. At the
same time, her almost naked and massive but still very alluring legs holding
on tightly to the unicorn as he trotted forward in pursuit of their prey.

It was a picture that would have driven most warriors to madness and fear, but
he knew he was not feeling fear when he thought of that image. It was another
emotion clearly opposite of fear. Then he realized it was pride that he felt
when he looked at her. She was truly an amazing creature.

Still, he knew he had felt this profound remorse. What had caused it? The
realization like a cold wave swept over him and stopped him dead in his
tracts. He knew now with a certainty that he wanted to live and he wanted her
to live too. It was an unfathomable contradiction to his present situation.
Fate had played the cruelest of jokes on him. The source of his anxiety and
regret was now plain to him. He had to kill the one thing in the universe he
loved.

Glaxxana and her friend the unicorn rode on at almost a leisurely pace. They
had entered the great plain at high noon, and she picked up the humans trail
almost immediately. He was cunning in his retreat, but because he was being
pursued by the ultimate warrior, he was not cunning enough.

As she followed his trail, she could read his signs plainly. There was great
pain in his tracts. His body could not help betraying that fact to her. For a
moment, she halted her friends progress and looked down at the signs. Instead
of the pleasure of the chase, she beheld the signs with a heavy heart. He was
near the end of his reserves. He would soon stand and fight for the last time,
and it would not be at a place of his choosing she thought. He would not be at
his best and there would be no tricks for him to spring on her at the last
moment.

She took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. His time was almost at an end. She
felt no elation, only sadness filled her being. What should have been the
greatest moment of her life now seemed very hollow indeed, and filled her with
no joy of the kill......Why?

Instead, of contemplating that question, her mind purged her thoughts with
action. She prodded her ally on, and he responded by moving at a slightly
quicker pace than before. But instead of following the enemy, she veered from
her course. A half a kilometer to the east was her landing site, and her stash
of supplies. She turned her head and looked at his trail. He can wait a bit
she thought. Then she said to herself sadly, he can live a bit longer.

They made the journey in ten minutes. After taking time to feed and water her
friend and ally, only then did she take care of her own needs. She replenished
her stocks and then sat down on the ground folding her long limbs beneath her.
Before she started her meditation, she looked to that part of the sky where
Gamula was located, and she thought of Nianna and spoke out loud.

"Do not worry mother, I will remember who I am, and what I must do. I WILL NOT
FAIL YOU!"

It did not surprise her that she called the old queen mother for the first
time. It was something that had been long overdo.

She took a deep breath and a smile spread across her face as she thought of
Tiani, and then she again spoke out loud to that part of the sky where Gamula
was located.

"And Tiani......my sister! I have not forgotten you either. You must be sick
with worry by now? I hope you haven’t done anything foolish! I will soon be
home, and we will share everything."

Then Glaxxana paused for a moment and her smile faded as she remembered the
goddess’s words, the prophecies that were revealed to her in her dream. But
were they truly prophesies or was it just a dream? With great humility she
spoke to her goddess.

"Great Heim, I do not understand all that has been revealed to me. Give me the
strength to be the Gamulan warrior I must be, but the woman inside of me cries
out for more answers. Can you tell me of what is to become of us?"

Instead of comforting her, the prayer only caused her more distress......but
why?

Then she remembered the first rule of battle. It was acceptable for a Gamulan
warrior to ask for the life of a beaten foe when he had fought well, so she
rephrased her appeal.

"I will do your will, Great Heim, but must I kill him?.......Please, Great
Heim, give me a sign."

At that very moment, the unicorn started to make a great fuss. He kicked out
with his great hind legs. Then he stood on them and kicked out with his huge
forelegs, whinnying his distress the whole time.

It broke the spell, and Glaxxana had to stand and quiet the great beast. It
was nearly a minute before she quieted him down and when she did, she had
forgotten her prayer.

Stroking his mane, she spoke softly to him.

"I must leave you again, but I am afraid, this time, it is for good."

She stopped stroking him and her hand moved up to the great twisted
protuberance on his forehead. Its touch still amazed her. After a few strokes,
she wrapped her arms around his neck and he let her do so without fuss.

"I will never forget you, and if the goddess is not cruel.......we will meet
again in another time, in another place."

She then kissed his soft white cheek and then swatted his behind.

Without hesitation, he took off towards the east, but before he was out of
sight, he raised up on his great hind legs and kicked out with his forelimbs
as if in one last act of defiance. Then he turned and galloped off to the
east.

Glaxxana waved a brief moment and then wiped something from her cheek. She
looked down at the wetness in her hand and knew it was a tear. It was the
first time she had ever cried in her entire life. Her emotions were getting
the best of her she thought, and she felt shame. She quickly scolded herself
by remembering that a Gamulan Warrior did not cry, did not let her emotions
run wild. Without further thought, she quickly turned and trotted off in the
opposite direction.

Her sadness dissolved as her mind moved on, and it was replaced with a burning
resolve. She now focused on her adversary once more. She knew the inevitable
outcome of her next confrontation with him, and a strange thought and desire
crept into her mind.

I am not sure if I can take your lifeless body back to Gamula with me, but I
must. There, you will be properly honored and your essence will be given back
to Gamula, our mother. And then we will sing your praises like any other
fallen Gamulan Warrior.

With the thought clear in her mind, she knew she would do this........but why?

Unlike Bannon, she did not let the thought follow to its inevitable
conclusion. Instead, before she would allow herself to complete the dangerous
thought, she began to run.

As if to erase any dangerous thoughts with exertion, Glaxxana quickened the
pace. She ran for a good half hour at top speed. She did not think as she ran,
and she let her instincts guide her. It felt so good to run. The exertion
purged her mind and comforted her. She felt more like an animal, as she ran,
than a Gamulan Warrior. She could feel her heart pumping and the blood surging
in her veins. It was a wonderful sensation, and she felt her concerns fade
away and her resolve return. Slowly, her mind was purged of the impure
thoughts and emotions, and she could focus once more. Deep down, she did not
allow her inner mind to give up its one great secret.

Donavan shook his head as he made his way back to his office. The President
had ranted through almost the entire meeting. It was the latest news from
Regna that Bannon had been wounded which set him off. Maybe, he was wounded,
but the wound had not been life threatening, and Bannon had made it through
that critical period of the next few hours without the ultimate bad news from
Regna. Still, the news had been reason enough for the President to take his
worries and frustrations out on the man who had thought up this incredulous
plan, namely Donavan.

This time he could scarcely blame the president. It had been almost two weeks
now since Bannon had been dropped on that infernal asteroid, and everyone’s
nerves had reached the breaking point many days ago.

The thought of this never ending waiting game going on indefinitely was worse
than watching our troops getting slaughtered in the Arena. Maybe, it was worse
than actually being there, Donavan thought to himself as he opened the door to
his office. He regretted thinking that as soon as the thought struck him.
Nothing could be worse than what those two unfortunates most be going through
right now on that distant alien moon.

Donavan’s mood quickly changed as he stopped by his desk and gazed out his
window at the huge blue planet suspended before him. At least our man was
still in the game, he thought. Then his mood quickly changed again as he had a
vision of Bannon lying in some cave unable to move or defend himself as this
huge female warrior tracked him down and moved in for the kill.

That thought made him flinch. We’re all going to go crazy if this doesn’t get
resolved very soon. As if in answer to his silent prayer, Donavan reached down
and pushed a button just under the top of his desk.

A feminine voice quickly answered, "Sir?"

Donavan sighed before he answered the unseen voice, and when he did answer,
his voice sounded very old.

"It’s time!"

His secretary, Joanna, who sat silently typing in an adjoining room, and maybe
his only confidant in the whole world replied, "Understood!"

It was time to play his ace he thought. He wasn’t sure what the consequences
would be, but he had to do something......Anything was preferable to this
continual waiting. He continued to look out at the earth deep in thought as
time slowed and minutes turned into hours.

For the first time during this ordeal, Donavan’s thoughts turned to Bannon’s
adversary. She must be something very special, even for a Gamulan. For if she
wasn’t, Bannon would have dispatched her long ago. No, she must be
unbelievably formidable. He was just as sure that nobody but Bannon could have
gotten this far. If he could just take that last step he thought or rather he
prayed.

What was she like he wondered? Was she loosing heart yet? That’s something
Bannon would never do. He knew Bannon didn’t care about living, and that is
what makes Bannon unbeatable. Bannon would always do what he must to win. He
is like a machine in that respect. He will have no choice. He WILL
react........and she WILL die.

That thought lifted his spirits, and calmed him once more. He didn’t quite
know why, but he had an undying faith in his friend.

For a brief moment, his thoughts turned to that blue orb glistening like a gem
in space, and to his responsibilities to the billions of people on its
surface.

But slowly his thoughts once again turned to the life and death struggle on
Regna, and to the two protagonists there. His keen mind couldn’t help but ask
more questions.

I wonder what they think of each other? I’m sure, by now, they have respect
for each others considerable talents. Is it like two ancient knights going at
each other where chivalry was in play? Or do they hate each other with a
passion, and would do anything to kill the other and end this game. Donavan
could only guess, but he did think it was the former. They had to have respect
for each other.

He thought their leader must have chosen very wisely. This Amazon warrior had
to be some sort of female Bannon, and that was his biggest concern.

Then his thoughts turned to his real adversary. The leader of the Gamulan
people. She must be something too he thought. For if she wasn’t, I would have
won by now. And it wasn’t arrogance for Donavan was an extraordinary leader.
Maybe, he didn’t carry the mantle of President, but he led just the same.

His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle tapping at his door.

"Come!" he said in a very calm voice, but he did not turn to look at the
person he had just summoned. Instead, he kept his gaze on the blue orb
floating in space.

Captain Danning walked in and silently stood at attention by the old man’s
desk, his eyes moving to gaze upon the planet just outside the large
reinforced plexi-glass window.

It was a few moments before the old man spoke. He did not turn around to face
the young man before him. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the earth as well
.

"Captain, I want you to be at Coleus Prime in three days."

"Sir?"

Donavan ignored the gentle probing and continued.

"That’s one jump from Regna. There, you are to await further orders."

Still looking at the Earth, Donavan added more softly, "Do you have everything
you need?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Good!...........Go!"

The young Captain didn’t get where he was by questioning orders. He turned and
walked towards the door.

Before he left, Donavan added, "God Speed!"

For the second time in his life the Captain hesitated, and he asked, "Do you
think he’s going to win, Sir?"

In a tired old voice, the true leader of the Federated Worlds answered, "Only
God knows that son, and he’s not being very helpful right now!"

A retort crossed the captains mind at that very moment. He wanted to say what
if God’s a women? But he didn’t want to cause the old man even the slightest
bit of discomfort. For the first time, he realized that in the last few days
he had become quite fond of that crusty old man. Instead, he bit his lip and
walked out.

Tiani and her band of warriors had spent the last few days preparing the
Goddess Triumphant for immediate departure. She had put the thoughts of where
she was going aside for the time being. She just had to much to do and to much
to prepare for, and she even was able to get Glaxxana out of her mind on
occasion. That was a blessed relief.

This would be her first command, and Glaxxana would not be there to add her
guidance, that saddened Tiani. She would be alone and in command. That would
be enough to make any young warrior nervous, but to be on the queen’s business
only magnified the situation. She knew this one mission, whatever it was,
could make or break her career.

She did not have time to dwell on her situation because, at that very moment,
she received a video communiqué directly from the council chambers. As she
waved her hand over the control panel, the vid flickered into life and
produced an image of the queen.

"Your majesty!" she said in a somewhat nervous and expectant voice.

"The council has approved your orders!" the queen said gravely.

With that news, the queen, in turn, looked to each of the other four ladies
seated at the great bench. Each great lady in turn, nodded her approval of the
orders. When she reached the last one, Tyranna hesitated for a brief moment,
then she too nodded her approval. It was a gesture that proved to Tiani that
unanimous approval had not come easily.

When approval had been verified, the queen immediately started to speak in her
most regal voice.

"You are to proceed to Regna. This charade has ended."

Tiani was confused and she let her concerns be known.

"Your majesty, has Glaxxana won?"

"No, the contest still continues."

"But your majesty, Is it not sacrilege to end one of the goddess’s contests
prematurely?"

The queen was patient with Tiani as always.

"No my child. Be assured that this stoppage is in harmony with the sacred
texts."

Then she looked to each woman and they again nodded.

"But your majesty......"

"Enough!..........Even a queen can not stop such a sanctified contest without
unanimous approval from the sacred council.........Be assured there is reason
enough, and that you MUST obey."

Tiani took a deep breath and nodded her assent to the queen.

The queen nodded her approval and then continued.

"You are to proceed immediately to Regna and bring back the
human........Preferably alive."

"And Glaxxana too!" Tiani said.

"Yes, but the human is your prime concern. Once you have him, he must be
brought back immediately. If you do not have Glaxxana by then...........then
leave her."

"But, your majesty, I don’t understand?"

In a more forceful voice, the queen added. "You need not understand.......You
MUST obey!"

Tiani hesitated for a moment and then nodded her assent once again. In a flash
of insight she asked, "Will the other be there?.........I mean the one I
killed."

"Quite probably the queen replied......He is and you are both nexus points on
which future history hinges........Do what ever is necessary to secure the
human!"

Tiani nodded her assent, this time with a very grave look on her face.

When the queen ended the conversation and the vid went dark, Tiani gave the
order for immediate departure. Even as she did so, she realized her first
command was going to be one for the ages. She did not dwell on the
implications of the queens orders, she was far too busy........at least for
now.

Back in the council chamber all was silent for a very long time. Then Tyranna
asked in a neutral voice, "Can she be trusted with such a grave
responsibility?"

The queen again showing patience replied, "Heim has chosen her. Whether we
like it or not, she is a player in all this."

This time, all the council members nodded in unison.

For a moment, Bannon stopped his painful trek and closed his eyes raising his
head towards the sky letting his senses take to the wind. A storm was brewing,
and it would be a bad one. He had seen the signs ever since he entered the
forest. The great heat of the plain had given way to a cool gentle breeze that
seemed to whisper a warning through the trees. In response, the animals
scurried about seeking shelter.

Opening his eyes once more he again willed the pain from his tired and aching
body. Slowly, his vision cleared and he could see that the sky had darkened
ominously as well. Unlike the animals around him, he could not wait out the
storm in some safe shelter for he was running out of time.

As he began to move painfully forward once more, he realized his moments of
clear thought were growing shorter and shorter. The final battle would have to
be fought and soon if he was to have any chance, but what if his adversary did
not attack and soon? She had to be reading his signs. She had to know her best
option was to wait before she attacked. Understanding nature as he did, Bannon
realized a large predator would often allow its prey to weaken before it made
its final attack.

No, Bannon knew with complete conviction that waiting was just not in her
nature. She was Gamulan, and they were a pure warrior race. Waiting was just
not in the ultimate warrior’s make up.

In a few more painful steps, he finally reached his hidden cache of supplies.
Taking his blaster from off his shoulder he set it down next to him, and
without wasting a moments time or any of his own remaining precious energy
slowly began to uncover his hidden supplies. As if in vindictive response to
his own elation of the moment, the first cracklings of thunder echoed through
the trees signaling the approaching storm. Bannon stopped for a moment,
considered the storm, and then proceeded to dig up his stash with renewed
vigor.

Two kilometers to the east, Glaxxana heard the first rumblings of thunder as
well. In response, she began to run even faster as if to out race the storm.
Immediately, she felt the power of the goddess. An energy that seeped into
every pore of her being. With this energy came confidence that the machine
that was her body could perform anything........do anything........overcome
anything or anyone, and it was not arrogance.

Soon she would have him she thought. And not wanting to dwell on her adversary
or any other dangerous thoughts, she found even more speed. It was the fastest
speed any Gamulan had ever attained. And with that increased speed, her
thoughts ceased and she completely became one with her surroundings. And all
that she was, was the beating of her heart and the pumping of her blood and
the heaving of her chest and the rhythm of her strides. It was a unity with
nature and a purity of purpose never before attained.........And her goddess
beheld her and smiled.

Five minutes later, Bannon had hungrily gulped down a few food packets,
removed the object that he needed to complete his plan, and hastily recovered
his stash. As he looked down, he was not pleased with his effort. A child
could find this cache he thought, but he could not afford to linger here any
longer. It would have to do, and did it really matter? Soon, he would fight
the final battle.....and he would live or he would die.

Once more, a great sadness engulfed him, but this time he did not give in to
it or dwell on it. Instead, he turned his head and listened. He heard nothing
and could see nothing, but instinctively he knew she was close. He had to move
and move now.

Once more with great effort he willed his body forward, and at the same time
he closed his mind to all unwanted emotions. He knew those emotions were
poison., and they would be his undoing. As a lightning bolt danced high
overhead, he heard himself utter out loud, "To think is to die."

Glaxxana entered the forest at top speed, and in response to the trees and her
present position slowed down ever so slightly. It was enough to break the bond
she attained with nature and enough to turn her mind back on.

The human had entered the forest at precisely the same position he had done
almost two weeks before. She now knew where he was going and approximately
where he would be. Soon, she thought.

And with that thought, she felt emotion trying to break down her defenses and
creep back into her mind and heart once more. In hope and desperation, she
again prayed to her goddess to harden her resolve.........Please Great One,
help me to be an instrument of your divine plan...........And her goddess was
listening.

Carefully, Bannon unwrapped the second blaster from its wrappings and along
with the other, put his arm through the straps securing both to his shoulder.
The added weight, although not great, almost buckled his knees. With supreme
effort, he gathered himself and willed his body forward once more. His journey
had to be short because he knew he was at the end of his reserves. Fortunately
for Bannon, the spot he had chosen almost two weeks before was nearby, and so
was the final object of his audacious plan.

He found the clearing and the tree a few minutes later. It brought a smile to
his tired and weary features. Bannon loved when an intricate plan came
together, but he had one more stumbling block he did not foresee two weeks
before. As he stood at the base of the tree and looked up, he exclaimed out
loud, "How in the hell am I going to climb the damn thing!"

Glaxxana entered the clearing in a trot. Her senses immediately told her to
stop. Was there danger? Her keen abilities immediately told her no. As she
looked around, she saw his signs everywhere, and again it brought profound
sadness to her. She could clearly see the tell tale markings of a man
struggling to hide something. It was his cache. He is at the end of his rope
she thought. Soon this ordeal will be over, and I can go home........we can go
home.

That thought buoyed her. She would take his lifeless body back to Gamula. It
was something she had to do. Call it almost an act of love she thought. Then
she gasped as she realized the word she had used. Quickly, she corrected
herself. It was the love one felt for a fellow sister and warrior that’s all.
He had proven to be a glorious adversary. Their great struggles must have
surely pleased the goddess. He deserved that much.

As if to block any further thoughts from her mind, she quickly drew her
blaster from off her back, and prepared for battle. She knew the final battle
would be fought with blasters. He was just too weak to fight any other way. I
will make it quick she thought, and then your suffering will be over. He
deserved this too she thought.

Even as she stealthily moved forward her keen senses dialing in to her
surroundings making her aware of even the slightest motion and sound, she
still had time for one more prayer. It was short and to the point.

"Goddess!......Thy will be done!"

And her goddess heard her prayer and smiled.

Bannon had made it into the branches of the tree with supreme effort. It was
the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. Then, he quickly corrected
himself. This will be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life........To
kill her.

Again, a profound sadness washed over him. This time he did not fight the
feeling. As he pulled the dirt from his pocket and started to rub it over the
surface of his two blasters dulling there shine, he let the feeling grab hold
of him. It no longer really mattered. The stage had been set and soon only one
of them would be alive.

He was well concealed in the tree. No ordinary being could detect him, but he
was facing the most extraordinary being he had ever encountered. She WOULD
detect him, but that was all right. That too was part of his plan. He wanted
her to know exactly where he was, and then it would be over in the blink of an
eye........one way or another.

When he was satisfied with the look and sheen of the weapons, he positioned
them in the tree. Both weapons would be fired simultaneously. As he waited, he
thought back across two weeks and he remembered his confrontations with her.
First, their knife fight on the bluff by the waterfalls. Then a little later,
down stream, when he had tried to shoot her with his blaster, and she dodging
his every shot as if he was the worst marksman in the world.

He couldn’t help admire her as they fought again in his mind’s eye. She was
unbelievable. It was like trying to fight the wind. She was just so
unbelievably quick. He didn’t actually see her move as he played their battles
over again. One moment, she was there and the next she was somewhere else.

But where was that somewhere else?..........That is what he was concerned
with, not her skills.

Then he moved on to their second confrontation. Again, he remembered how she
had easily avoided his shots even when she was at her most vulnerable perched
high up on that rock. It was maddening. Even then, he could not hit her.

But he put his frustrations aside once again and watched how she
moved........To that somewhere else, and again he nodded.

When he had played the fights out several times, he was finally satisfied. He
had detected a weakness. In almost every instance, she had moved to the right.
It was the fact he desperately needed to position his guns. It was the one bit
of information that would determine if he would live or die.

As he waited, an ironic thought crossed his mind, and he had to hold back from
laughing out loud. Had their entire struggle on this alien moon been so he
could attain this one fact.......this one weakness? Bannon’s mood quickly
changed from one of giddiness to a profound sadness. That thought seemed to
minimize their titanic struggles over the last two weeks.

No, their struggle had been noble, and it would be fate who decided if the man
with all his flaws could actually defeat the perfect female. That would be
fate’s cruelest joke he thought.

Finally, he shook his head to clear it once more. He felt an overwhelming
desire to close his eyes. No! He had to shout out to his mind. To sleep is to
die! Then he remembered what he had told himself just minutes earlier. To
think is to die!

Again, he saw the irony and he fought back an urge to laugh. His options were
truly fading.

Overhead, the lightening was flashing with increasing regularity, and the
crackling of thunder grew ever louder. It signaled to Bannon that the storm
was getting closer. His eyes darted from tree to tree and then made a circuit
of the ground. He saw nothing. Again, he chuckled to himself as he realized
that the true storm was very close indeed.

Glaxxana, cautiously moved forward, her gun at the ready. The light was
dimming as the storm approached, but her keen eyesight saw everything. It was
one of the goddesses gifts, and one of the reasons why her people always won
in battle.

As she entered the clearing, she immediately spotted his place of concealment.
Instead of firing, she thought, I will give you the first shot, and when you
miss, I will end it.

The pain in Bannon’s shoulder was mind numbing as he saw her and quickly
repositioned the guns. The first blaster, he pointed at her head, and the
second was aimed a little lower just to the right of her position. The pain
was numbing, but it actually allowed him not to think, and to just act. Fate
in its cruelest joke yet, had favored the man once again.

He pulled the triggers almost simultaneously and the shots rang out as one.

As always, Glaxxana reacted even before she could think. It was another gift
from the goddess, and she quickly avoided the first shot. As she moved with
the grace and speed of an unearthly creature, she was already positioning her
weapon to fire on the man. But as she did, something was horribly wrong. There
was a great pain in her stomach, and her blaster began to waiver. The
dream!......The dream!.......Her mind screamed out.......THE DREAM IS COMING
TRUE!

With her last bit of energy she fired and then the trees began to whirl around
her and she fell. As she lost consciousness, her last thoughts filled her with
unbelievable remorse. I HAVE FAILED! she cried out in her mind even as
darkness overtook her.

The shot had narrowly missed Bannon. Another cruel joke he thought, better we
both die here. After he watched her fall, he put is head down and wept. It was
a moment frozen in time and it seemed like it lasted an eternity and it was
another eternity before he composed himself and he began to move.

His pain and exhaustion mysteriously left him as he slowly made his way down
the tree, but the numbness in his mind returned. Once on the ground he beheld
her once more. She was still where she had fallen, the great wound in her
stomach plain for him to see.

Bannon still carrying one of the blasters, looked up toward the heavens and
yelled at the top of his lungs, "WHY?"

The thunder and lightening slackened at that very moment, but a gentle rain
began to fall, and the water droplets mingled with his own tears.

With a heavy heart, he again gathered himself and moved forward raising his
gun. It was over, but he had to make sure. As he approached, his mind raced.
How had he with all his flaws killed such a perfect creature? And then he
remembered the lady in white and his dream. She had promised he would bring
order to the galaxy? But how could killing such a glorious creature bring
order?

No, it was just a dream. Then he remembered his duty. He had a job to do, and
he owed Donavan. He aimed the gun and prepared to fire one final shot.

From behind, there came a great clamor, and he paused a moment and looked in
that direction. It was the unicorn. It was standing on its great hind legs and
kicking out with its huge forelegs making a horrendous
commotion......Whinnying the whole time.

Bannon quickly aimed the gun at his other tormentor, but the creature did not
run or attack. Instead, it lowered its huge forelegs to the ground quieting
itself at the same time, and as it did so, it silently regarded Bannon as if
it was defying him to shot.

In that moment, Bannon’s urge to kill left him and he said out loud, "There’s
been enough killing today!"......... And he lowered the gun.

When he turned back toward Glaxxana, the unicorn quietly and calmly
approached.

As Bannon’s gaze beheld Glaxxana once more. He thought he saw an almost
imperceptible movement of her chest. His first reaction was to aim once again
and fire, but as he looked through the barrel, he could not bring himself to
shoot, and in that moment a decision was made.........and it was forever.

Throwing caution to the wind, Bannon threw down his gun, knelt at her side,
and felt for a pulse. Nearby, the unicorn lowering its head looked on and
anxiously pawed at the ground.

To Bannon’s amazement he felt a slight pulse. It was another defining moment,
a moment of pure joy, but it didn’t last for long. Turning his attention to
her stomach, he could see blood flowing profusely out of her wound. First, he
had to stop the flow of blood or at least slow it down.

Turning to the unicorn as if it could understand him, he said, "She’s alive,
but barely."

In response, the unicorn pawed at the ground once more and neighed in a low
gentle way as if it did indeed understand.

Bannon didn’t have time to be amazed at this wondrous creature. He had another
equally wondrous creature whose life hung in the balance. But as he looked on
Glaxxana’s angelic face, he did have time to remark to no one in particular,
"Well, it seems like I underestimated your goddess."

Even as he worked to stem the flow of blood, the storm intensified once again
and the rain pelted down from above and the lightening lit up the clearing and
the thunder crackled ominously overhead. Bannon realized he would have to find
shelter and fast, but how could he move her? His strength was almost played
out and he knew of no shelter nearby.

As Bannon feverishly worked over the perfect being, he remembered the words of
the lady from his dream.

"When the time is right, you must follow the unicorn!"

Somehow, everything was beginning to fall into place, but how, and why? For
the moment, he let those questions go as he painfully stood up.

Almost out of reflex, Bannon petted the great beast and softly spoke to it,
"I’ve got to make a sling, and then you have to lead us to shelter. Can you do
that, boy?"

As if in response to the question, the unicorn let out with another low neigh,
and pawed at the ground once more. It was evidence to Bannon that the creature
did indeed understand.

In response, Bannon uttered, "Amazing!" But he couldn’t dwell on those
thoughts either. He had a sling to make and a life to save. Maybe, the most
important life in the whole galaxy.

As soon as The Goddess Triumphant had materialized back into normal space in
the Clavius system, the alarm bells began to ring. A message was coming in on
FTL. Tiani knew that such a message could only be of the utmost importance.
She braced herself, waved her hand over the controls, and the vid flickered
into life.

It was the queen. She was no longer in the council chambers. Instead, she was
sitting in her rocker in her own quarters waiting for the picture to clear.
Tiani thought she no longer looked like the most powerful person in the
Gamulan empire, but for all the world like an old women sitting in her chair
waiting to die.

In her most regal voice, the queen began to speak, but Tiani could hear the
pain in her words.

"We have received a communiqué from the Meridians. The sensors indicate that
Glaxxana has been grievously wounded."

The queen stopped when she saw the young girl react by sitting straight up in
her seat, and she could also read the alarm on her face, but she couldn’t
console the young girl just now. The young one had a very important mission to
perform.

The queen continued, "The wound is so great that Glaxxana may be unconscious
and unable to defend herself."

The queen paused for a moment, gathering her own emotions and hiding them from
view. Then she continued, "Glaxxana may be dead already, but you must continue
your mission with all speed."

Tiani interrupted her queen and in an angry voice spit out the words, "I WILL
KILL HIM!"

In as forceful and as queenly a voice as she could muster, the queen replied,
"NO! You must bring him to us.......And alive if possible!.......He is very
important to our future..........Do you understand?"

"And what of Glaxxana?" the young girl said in a desperate voice."

"I have already dispatched another ship. If she is not near the
human........leave her body," the queen added in a very small voice......Then
more forcefully she asked again, "Do you understand?"

Tiani couldn’t find any words, but she nodded her compliance.

This time the queen replied in a softer voice, "Good!.......May the goddess be
with you!" And then the screen went dark.

Tiani closed her eyes and let her head collapse on her arms over the control
council. It was with great effort that she fought back the tears. She knew
others were watching.

In another moment she gained control of herself and forced her tears to wait
for her private chambers, but she did make a vow to herself. I WILL KILL YOU,
CREATURE!

That is how she now viewed the human. She did not know what he looked like or
how he could have done such a thing. It could only have been by some cowardly
act she thought. How else could the greatest warrior that ever lived be
bested, and by a human, and a man to boot. Yes "The Creature" is what I will
call you she thought for she knew of nothing else that seemed to fit this
human who dared to do such a vile thing.

Again she reaffirmed her vow, I WILL KILL YOU, and the queen can have your
lifeless body.

With a new mission firmly implanted in her mind, Tiani rose from her seat and
barked out her orders.

"Prepare the Goddess for the final jump to Regna!"

The bridge officer in a calm voice replied, "Sir, the batteries will need
almost a day to recharge!"

Tiani composing herself replied in a calmer voice, "I’ll be in my quarters.
Summon me when we’re ready to jump."

After her statement, she fled the bridge for her tears could wait no longer.

To be continued........

Will Glaxxana survive? Can Bannon save her? Why does the queen want Bannon so
badly? What secret does he possess? Will Tiani kill him? And can Donavan do
anything to stop her? All these questions will be answered in the coming
chapters.