The Starjammers in…

AROUND THE GALAXY AGAIN

By Jackson Moore

Chandilar
The Throne World
Shi’ar Galaxy

He looked at the small cardboard box for the third time today. Boy he really wanted to watch this movie again. That Michael J. Fox guy was really funny. To bad that he couldn’t watch Back to The Future. You would think with all the advanced technology, the Shi’ar would have a common VCR around the place. That’s when he realized it. Mil’Cree Adam Nermani Martin wanted to return to Earth. And he hated that he wanted to.

Adam laid back on his bed and thought to himself. He hated the fact that he misses a place he doesn’t belong to. He loathed the fact that he wanted to be with people who didn’t want him around. On the other hand, there were a few people that he wouldn’t mind seeing again. He wanted to see his half-brothers once more. Maybe this time he and Scott would get to know each other better. He and Alex hit it off without a problem. Then again Scott didn’t want to make that connection with Adam. Adam couldn’t understand why he wanted such a strong relationship with a man who blocks him out of existence.

“Magnate Mil’Cree,” a soft voice said coming into his chambers. “I knocked but you didn’t answer.”

Adam turned his head and looked into the blue eyes of Cerise. The pink and black feathered avian gave him a soft smile. “I’m sorry, I was out of it for a second. You know, in my own world,” Adam replied with his own grin. “And call me Adam, please.”

Like himself, Cerise was an alien on the planet Earth. Though she had fled to Earth to hide from her crimes against the rule of the Shi’ar, she became a hero as a member of Excalibur. “What are you thinking about Mag…Adam?” she wondered.

“The same thing I was thinking about yesterday,” Adam answered sitting up. “Hell, the same thing I’ve been thinking about since I came back to Chandilar. I really don’t understand why I miss them so much. I was only there a month.”

“Because you found what you were looking for,” Cerise responded taking a seat next to him. “You found your family. Both sides of it at that. Not everybody gets that you know.”

Adam nodded his head and let out a deep sigh. “But I don’t know where I belong. I felt out of place on Earth with the X-Men and I barely fell at home here. I guess I’m still getting used to this royalty thing.” Adam said picking up a red and gold robe from the end of his bed. “Fancy ropes, shiny jewelry, and big headpieces. A bit much for a farmer’s boy.”

“You will get used to it,” Cerise said rising from the bed.

Adam just shook his head getting the thought of him plowing the fields in his royal robes and gigantic headpiece. “I guess. So, what do I owe for your visit?”

“Her royal Majestrix would like to see you in the gardens,” Cerise answered reverting back to her proper voice.

Adam nodded his head and rolled his eyes. He wondered if Lilandra knew how hard it was to find someone in that greenhouse labyrinth she calls a garden. “I’ll be down there in a minute, but tell her to be visible this time,” Adam said as he slipped on his crimson red robe.

Cerise looked back at Adam as she headed towards the door. She could see he was still in his own world, since he put his robe on inside out. “Don’t take to long. You know how her royal Majestrix is about time,” she said breaking his trance once again.

Adam fell back on the bed from the extra weight of his headpiece.” Too damn much,” Adam mumbled under his breath.

The Starjammer
kSilwrz Galaxy

Christopher Summers looked into the dark eyes of the Shi’ar Majestrix Lilandra Nermani. Her image from the holographic communication system would send chills up his spine, if it mattered to him. Her eyes were telling him that she was not happy.

“Cerise informed you that firing the starcracker missile was in the event of a mission failure, but you did it anyway!” Lilandra said with a powerful yet soft voice. Her regal stature almost made Christopher care that she was upset. “Explain yourself.”

“Look Lil,” Christopher replied watching Lilandra roll her eyes. He loved how she rolled his eyes when he called her Lil. It was kind of cute, reminded him of Catherine a little bit. “You asked the Starjammers to do a job for you, we do it, and you get your feathers in a bunch. And you know what else, I’m getting tired of doing all of your dirty work. Not only that, but I don’t think the people of Chandilar would like it if they knew you were helping wanted criminals.”

“Excuse me?” Lilandra said, appalled at the stinging words. “My so-called dirty work is helping you and your crew redeem yourselves. I am helping you clear your name.”

Christopher started pacing around the room and exhaled. “Destroying an entire race is what you call clearing our name?” He asked raising his voice a little. Lilandra was really getting on his nerves trying to sound right, even though she was wrong.

“A race that would have killed your homeworld and mine! So don’t act like you just did it for me! You did it for your family as well!” Lilandra yelled finally breaking her cool.

Christopher realized that she was right. He didn’t just take the mission to help the Shi’ar galaxy, he didn’t just do it for Earth, he did it for Scott, Alex, Jean, and Rachel. Both of them. “You’re right. I was given specific instructions and I didn’t follow them. I apologize for that and the outburst a minute ago.” Christopher said looking back into Lilandra’s eyes to emphasize his apology.

“Apology accepted and I must apologize for my outburst as well,” Lilandra responded back in her soft voice again. “I suppose I should be thanking you for saving the galaxy once again.”

Christopher gave her a smirk and nodded his head. “And once again, not a problem. Is there anything else I can do for you your highness?”

Lilandra chuckled a little bit. “Not at the moment Christopher. Just don’t get into any trouble while you are out there. If you need anything you know who to call.”

“Likewise,” Christopher responded. Lilandra waved good-bye and ended the transmission. He turned around and headed toward his sleeping quarters. His mind drifted back to his boys and wondered how they were doing. He hadn’t talked to Scott or Alex in what seemed like years and Rachel sure didn’t tell him much when she boarded the Starjammer a couple of months ago.

“Something there is on your mind?” the white furred Hepzibah asked as Christopher entered the room they shared. She walked up behind him and kissed him lightly on his neck.

“Just thinking about my boys,” Christopher answered as he picked up Scott and Jean’s wedding picture. “I need to talk to them again. It’s been way too long.”

“About what to talk?” she asked wrapping her arm and tail around him.

“Whatever it is we need to talk about. I feel like I’m still missing out on their lives, y’know. Sure, I seem to pop up when I need to be there, but I keep missing more. I missed the birth of my granddaughter, for Christ’s’ sake. Do you have any idea how much that hurts? Only getting to see her through a hologram projection, never being able to hold her in my arms…” Christopher shook Hepzibah off and took a seat on the bed. “I’m such a failure.”

“Say that you don’t,” Hepzibah said with concern in her eyes. “Understand I don’t why cant you to Earth go?”

“And have to sit through another one of Scott’s speeches and have to hear Alex beg me to stay, I don’t think so,” Christopher disagreed.

Hepzibah rolled her eyes at his last statement. “Confused you are. Want to be around them you do, but fear seeing them you do. Your mind make up.” With a flick of her tail, Hepzibah leaves the room.

Christopher laid his head back on his pillow and closed his eyes. Maybe she is right, he thought. I keep running away from my problems. I don’t understand why my life can’t include the people that share my blood. I want to be part of my sons’ lives, my granddaughters’ lives also. Why is it so hard for me to commit? He rolled over in the bed and drifted off to sleep.

“Think you don’t that we are through!” Hepzibah yelled as she re-entered the room, awakening Christopher.

I thought only human women acted like this, Christopher thought getting ready for an earful from his partner.

Chandilar
The Throne World

“After their union, Sharra and K’ythri became one and found strength in each other. Which is why we pray to them,” Lilandra said as she walked next to her nephew in the royal gardens.

“I kind of get the feeling you forgot I was raised here until I was twenty,” Adam said picking up a rose/gardenia hybrid. “I know who we pray to.”

Lilandra thought about his statement and let out a small laugh. “I guess I have to ask you what you want to know about your family. I apologize.”

“Ah, it’s okay. I really don’t have a whole lot of questions, but if I think of any I’ll be sure to ask ya,” Adam replied smelling the flower. It had a sweet smell, that reminded him of sugar. “Great,” he groaned.

“What’s the problem Mil’Cree?” Lilandra asked turning into another area of the gardens covered in fruit trees.

Adam looked at the apples and pears surrounding him. His mind shifted back to Earth and those baked apples that Chyna made. He shook his head getting rid of the thought.

“I’m missing them,” he answered. “I miss the X-Men. I miss my family. My other family that is.”

Lilandra put a hand on Adam’s shoulder and pulled him close. “Mil’Cree, I can understand how you can miss the X-Men. I miss them as well. They are good people and bring a lot of love whenever you see them. I miss that love. But knowing that you are part of the same bloodline of their leader, I can feel that love coming from you.”

Adam smiled at her kind words. “Thanks,” he replied tossing the flower into some nearby grape vines. “Let me ask you something. I know that you’ve been to Earth on numerous occasions, and have met a lot of people. Have you ever met anybody that you liked on Earth? You know like in love.”

“I guess my heart really does belong with the X-Men,” Lilandra stated. “I fell in love with Charles Xavier. I knew we were soul mates from the first time we linked minds. He was everything a woman could ask for. Smart, funny, caring, and a heart of gold.” Lilandra stopped herself as she was beginning to tear up.

Adam had known that Lilandra and Charles Xavier had a relationship, but he never knew how close they actually were. He could feel the pain coming from her as the tears started to flow from her eyes. When Jean told Lilandra the news of Charles death, Chandilar was in mourning for weeks. The people cried with Lilandra as Charles was one of the well-known loves of Lilandra’s life.

They continued their walk in silence, turning into every part of the garden. Lilandra led Adam to an open field with a small group of people within it. By instinct, the people dropped to their knees in respect for Lilandra. She nodded her head and continued walking. As they began to rise, one them pointed out Adam behind her, and the group dropped down to their knees again.

“That doesn’t get old to you?” Adam whispered nodding his head to the avians.

“It can get a little annoying,” Lilandra said entering the place. “But you get used it. Adam, I am going to a meeting with the council members, would you like to join?”

Adam shook his head and gave Lilandra a soft smile. “I think I’ll take a walk around the palace. Get to know this place a bit more.”

Lilandra watched as Adam walked into the dining hall and continued to the council member’s chambers. As she entered another hallway, she pulled a small broach from the chest plate of her armor. As she opened it more tears filled her eyes. A photo of Charles Xavier looked her in the eyes. She looked at the other picture within the brooch and let out a small sigh. “At least you left me something to remember you Charles,” she said to the photo. She dried her eyes and entered the chambers in her regal stance.

Four Days Later

The alarm screeched though the space caravan waking every inhabit within it. Every light turned a deep crimson red to amplify the importance of the ear shattering alarm. The first vibration of impact told everyone know their ship had come under attack.

A red and green amphibious lizard being rushed to the cockpit of the ship and quickly flipped a switch. The black screen in front of him jumped to life, with numbers and surveillance shots from all around the ship. A long gold space craft soared closer to the small space craft.

<Zeims!> the being yelled through the ships intercom. <We have a big problem! The Starjammers have found us.>

<I’m on my way Dr’Zen,> Vaun replied.

Trele jumped back into the pilot seat and took the controls. He pulled them up, sending the spacecraft in an upward motion. To his dismay, the Starjammer flew under it and made a complete rotation to the front of the ship. The front of the Starjammer raised its lasers on them.

A video of another amphibious lizard, Ch’od appeared on the viewing screen. <By the rule of Shi’ar Majestrix Lilandra Nermani, you are under arrest. Drop your shields and be prepared to be boarded.>

<Look at you!> Dr’Zen yelled at Ch’od. <Doing what ever those avians tell you to do. After all that they have done to your people, you still follow their rule. You disgust me.>

<Drop your shields,> Ch’od replied with no emotion on his face.

<Never!> Dr’Zen screamed at him.

<Drop them,> Zeims said entering the cockpit. <We surrender.>

As Ch’od disappeared from the screen, Dr’Zen turned to Zeims with a look of shock on his face. <Why do you want me to drop the shields> Dr’Zen asked flipping the switch.

<If they think we are going down without a fight, they have another thing coming,> Zeims answered. “Whoever it is that comes aboard, we will take them hostage. These Starjammers wouldn’t let one of their own die.”

Dr’Zen nodded his head in agreement. The ship rocked as they could feel the transporting beam hit their ship. <I’ll go greet our guest,> Dr’Zen said as he rose from his seat.

He walked from the cockpit to the loading bay, stepping lightly so he wouldn’t tip them off. He entered the bay and looked around to see who arrived. All he saw was a small white rag on the floor. He shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the intercom. <There’s no one here,> he said to Zeims. <I think there might be something wrong with their transporting beam. I’m on my way back up.>

As he turned around, the white rag jumped from the ground onto Dr’Zen’s face. He fumbled around and felt a sharp point on his back. “Drop to thine knees criminal,” the robotic voice of Raza spoke to Dr’Zen.

Dr’Zen did as he was told and slowly fell to his knees. He couldn’t believe that he was brought to his knees in such a swift motion. And if the cyborg, Raza was on the ship that meant more of the Starjammers could be on the ship as well. The white rag removed itself from Dr’Zen’s face and made a strange sound.

“You’re right FriendCr+eee,” Ch’od said to the white furry thing climbing up his arm. “I am better looking than him. Ch’od aimed his blaster at Dr’Zen and let it charge up. “Make one move and you won’t make it back to Chandilar.”

<Neither will you!> Zeims yelled charging for Ch’od. He drew his blaster from his holster and was ready to shoot it at his fellow Timorian. But the gun was forced from his hand by a swift kick from Hepzibah.

She grabbed his arm and flipped him to the ground in one quick motion. “Arrested you are under,” Hepzibah said removing her own blaster from her hip and aiming it at the criminal. Zeims tried to say something, but Hepzibah place her foot on his throat. “A word you don’t say.”

“I’d listen to her if I were you,” Christopher said coming out of the shadows. “Like my good friend Ch’od told you, you two are under arrest.”

The Starjammer

“You know Lil, you might want to hire better security,” Christopher said to the hologram of Lilandra.

“I’ll take that into consideration,” Lilandra replied with that soft smile she is known for. “Who would have thought they could escape prison, let alone steal a ship?”

“Is their anything else we can do for you?” Christopher asked taking a seat. “I was kind of hoping that I could take a much needed vacation.”

“Actually Christopher, we need you to travel to Zhylian Cascadhel. A shipment of fuel and food that was meant for the Shi’ar soldiers stationed there was stolen by Shi’ar protesters.”

“I guess that vacation can wait,” Christopher said with a fake smile. “We’ll get the job done.”

“Thank you Christopher,” Lilandra said with a bow. Her image fades from the holographic projector and Christopher heads towards the cockpit.

“Another whirlwind adventure for the Starjammers,” Christopher said to himself entering the room. He took his seat in the captains’ chair and looked at the upcoming stargate on the monitor. He wanted to go to Earth and visit his children, but he knew he had to do this for Lilandra. “Ch’od set courses for Zhylian Cascadehl. We got another mission.”