| Chapter Nine The next few weeks proceeding the ball were very tumultuous. Everyone was busy searching for dance partners and those who hadn’t already found one were panicking. Anday, who couldn’t get a date with Ginny any way had to break many hearts by telling them he had no dances left. Squirt asked Amanda and was promptly turned down. After careful persuasion, though, she finally agreed to go. Matt, the Kidd that is, hadn’t really given it much thought until he realized he caught the fancy of several girls. His popularity among the female gender didn’t near that of Anday’s but it was still respectable. In the end he asked a kind young half-elf by the name of Cassie who had brown eyes and auburn hair. Matt the retired physiologist decided on not taking someone at all because of his recent break up with Neptune’s respectable biologist, Faithi. Erin who stood much shorter without her shoes was to be accompanied by Kiell, a pilot who this his shoes stood slightly taller than she. The Queen, with all her regal airs was neither asked nor asked anyone. Those who did not know her well didn’t believe that they were of high enough rank to ask a Queen and those who did know her, they too, for their own reasons refrained from asking her. She pitied herself not over this because she had more important things to be dealt with. One night several days before the much talked about Ball, the Queen was standing on the balcony that over looked Balthasaar. The city was slowly being rebuilt into the glory it once was. She looked up and saw two of Neptune’s nine moons glowing back at her. Then something caught her attention back on the ground. Something silver flashed by quickly and...the it was gone. She then sneezed uncontrollably. She wouldn’t have thought much of it except there was a lifeless form lying down there. Hannahoko strained her eyes to see what it was but couldn’t make it out, then she sneezed again. The following day it was reported that two penguins were found laying in the streets both of which had black backs. ~*~~~~~*~**~*~~~~~~*~ The day of the ball the women of Neptune were scarce. All of them were hidden away curling hair and applying make-up. The men, however, were walking around enjoying the day off. Many Russians came that day (mainly pilots though a few other people including Erika.) That night the Palace ballroom was lit and decorated extravagantly. The music was composed by an elf who was one of the first citizens of the barren planet. The tune had an eerie sound to it but it was strangely enchanting. Anday was once more attempting to ask Ginny to dance. She turned around and threw her drink in his face. “Leave me alone!” she cried and ran off. It was enough to break the pride of anyone but not Anday’s. Number one there was a hundred girls there that would consider themselves lucky to dance for just a second with him. And number two he was almost excited by the challenge. The Queen sat at a large banquet table her head cocked slightly to the side. Her eyes were glazed over because she was deep in thought. Erika sat beside her and was talking but Hannahoko wasn’t listening. “Hannahoko!” Erika’s shrill voice brought her back to reality. “Wha’ what??” “Who is that?” “Who is who?” “Him, over there, the one with blue hair.” “Who Matt?” “Is that his name?” “Yes?” “I want you to introduce me.” “What for?” “Just do it!” “Erica he’s happy, just leave him alone.” “Fine, I’ll introduce myself.” Erica stood up and stormed off to meet the Kidd. That’s what Erika always did, storm. Hannahoko couldn’t help admiring her boldness, though. The young Queen stood up from her chair. This is ridiculous, she thought, I’m going to go get some fresh air. Once outside she could see the constellations of star that she did not know the proper names for. “Hannah’?” Hannahoko jumped and whirled around. “Nothing to be afraid of, it’s just me.” “Nick?” she asked startled. “You don’t need to sound so surprised. You look like I just came back from the dead.” Hannahoko smiled and swiftly embraced Nick. “Isn’t it a bit odd for a Queen to go around hugging people?” “Nick it’s been so long since you’ve been around! How are you?” “Fine, working on becoming a better pilot and maybe publishing a short story or two.” The Queen punched him in the ribs as hard as she could. “Ouch! What was that for?” he asked putting his hand over his stomach. “THAT’s for Russia attacking Neptune. If I find out you were one of the pilots who bombed our city you better start praying. That was nothing compared to the pain you will feel.” “Whoa, calm down, no need to hand out threats,” he laughed. “I really didn’t know much about anything.” “You’d better not have.” “I didn’t know anything, well, not really until after it happened.” “Nick?” “Alright fine, I did know about it, but I had no part in it.” “Nick!!?” “Look, okay, how do you always know when I’m lying? I was one of the pilots who attacked Aakkar. Will told us that Neptune was betraying Russia. He said that you were giving over confidential information to Poland and Egypt. I didn’t want to believe them but they had evidence. They knew exactly what days we were going to ambush them, and that was top secret information. They would not have been able to find out easily.” “You were one of them?!?” “Will told us we were only trying to scare you, nobody was supposed to get hurt.” Hannahoko swung again but Nick caught her fist. “Hannah’ stop it!” “Nick how could you?” “Hannah’ c’mon its over now. It won’t happen again.” “Oh yeah? How can you be so sure? Let go of me.” “We sent Will...” “Did you? Did you really? Or is that a lie too? What if it does happen again. Who’s side will you be on? We won’t be able to protect ourselves, you can quote that and send it back to Erica,” the young queen scoffed. She attempted to punch him again but he caught her left fist, too. “Hannah’, please stop, come on. Let’s go back in, the walls have ears,” he whispered. “And inside is going to help?” “They won’t listen as intently if we don’t appear to be alone.” Nick let go of her clenched hands and grabbed her wrist. Although she struggled a lot they were soon inside again and on the dance floor. “There, that’s better, the Queen couldn’t come to a ball and not dance, could she?” “I had no intentions of dancing,” she muttered, “That is why I wasn’t.” “Hmm, well now that we are being less observed, I want to tell you something. It will surely be of interest.” “And that is?” “I am on your side,” he whispered lowly, and then he said in a loud more jovial voice, “Yes your majesty it has been quite some time.” “What?” she asked bewildered. “Just play along, Hannah’, don’t they teach you anything in Queening school?” he murmured and then added, “Yes! It is a lovely night out, isn’t it?” “Oh yes, it certainly is,” Hannahoko said loud enough for everyone around her to hear then she whispered, “What do you have to tell me?” “A bit over dramatized, Hannah’, but it will do. Look, Erika didn’t actually throw Will into prison at all.” “I figured as much.” “Yes, and Erika is planning a sneak attack relatively soon.” “Yes, I know, I just don‘t know when.” “You know? How do you know?” “I have my sources..” “Hmm, well, yes and no your majesty. I do enjoy traveling but I always do miss home,” he said and then whispered hoarsely, “be prepared for the fight of your life when Erika says she is leaving. I‘m on your side.” The young queen nodded. “Well your majesty, that’s the end of the song, I’m sorry but I must go now!” “But,” said Hannahoko. “No buts your majesty, I will just have to tell you about the time I saved all those children from a ten story burning building some other time.” Hannahoko stood in the middle of the dance floor trying to decide whether or not she should even believe him. She began to walk back through the group of dancing people when someone grabbed her shoulder roughly. Startled, she twisted around to see her aggressor. “Erika,” she said weakly. “I think that Matt is avoiding me. Can’t you ask him to dance with me? He will certainly listen to you.” The young empress tried greatly to hide her relief. “Erika, he is not one my subjects, I can not order him around.” “But I need someone to accompany me in a dance.” “I’m sure on of the Russ-” “No! It will appear as if I commanded them to dance with me.” “But Erika it will be ordering-” “Shut up you peasant. That’s right, you are a peasant. Without me you would not have survived this long.” “You’re right, new colonies do struggle when they’re assaulted.” “Watch your mouth, you know that we heard word of treason. Or did you hear otherwise from that Lieutenant Armstrong? You are very bad at hiding your emotions, Hannahoko. I saw that he spoke to you. What kind of a fool do you take me for? Do not trust him. He is a common thief picked up by our air and space force. He deceives you. Perhaps to impress you, I do not know, but he is not to be trusted. I will have to speak with him later about it, I can not have liars in my ranks.” “He told me nothing, Erika.” “We’ll see.” “He told me nothing,” Hannahoko said firmly. Erika walked past the Queen. “We will speak later.” *@!&#(&#@$(*#&(#*&$(#*&$( Anday stared fiercely at the man standing opposite of him. His hands were clenched to tight that it hurt. His face was shadowed darkly and was only highlighted by the moon.. “You come here because our Queen is entirely too soft and now you’re abusing the privilege. How dare you say vodka is better!!” “Yeah and you know what else? You dogs need a bath!” the man said with a thick Russian accent. “I don’t have a dog!” yelled Anday. “Well then, you really stink!” “That’s it, you’re going down you Nazi!” “I’m not German you idiot.” “At least I’m not the one with Erica as a stupid president.” “You’re right, you have much worse. You have a tyrannical Queen who is incredibly stupid and wears her, how do you say, liver on her sleeve?” Anday threw his fist hard into the Russian’s face. The man held his nose as blood ran through his fingers. Two of his friends seemed to appear out of nowhere. “What have you done to Boris?” one bellowed at Anday, “You will pay you Kandi!” The Russians both spat on the ground. Although they were both bigger than he, the Commander was greatly enraged and he allowed his right hook to fly into one of the man’s stomach. Boris’ friend didn’t seem to be effected by this action. “You’re not a very bright lad are you?” he laughed. “Since when were the Russians so big,” Anday muttered. Boris, although his nose was broken, had recovered very well. “Look what you’ve done you stupid Kandi! To show my great forgiveness, though, I will not distort your handsome face if you bow down and ask for forgiveness.” “Never!” cried Anday as he kicked Boris in the shin. Boris’ friends were quickly on the scene. One grabbed the Commander’s arms while the other punched him in the stomach, once and then twice. Anday doubled over but couldn’t clutch his stomach to help ease the pain. Someone came up behind them and caused them to stop for a moment. “Anday, you okay?” Everyone whirled around to see who spoke. “Matt,” the Commander coughed, “Of course I’m not okay you idiot, do I look okay to you?” Several switchblades fell into the Kidd’s hands and they flipped open. Chibi squeaked menacingly at the Russian. Boris promptly pulled a pistol from inside his jacket and aimed it at the Kidd’s head. Anday managed to struggle free when the man let his guard down. “Boris, no! Don’t shoot him,” one of Boris’ friends yelled in Russian. Anday and Matt could not understand the strange tongue but both assumed he was urging Boris on. “Shut up!” Boris bellowed back in the same language, “They’ll all be dead soon enough anyway.” His finger was on the trigger ready to be pulled. He had an almost possessed look on his face. “Say your prayers, scum.” Someone yelled from behind Matt in a girlish pitch. “No!” Boris was instantly levitated into the night air and his magnum released a bullet. It resounded and the bullet shot out harmlessly into the night air. Anday stared wide-eyed at the white form in the distance. “Hannahoko?” he asked in disbelief. The Queen didn’t respond, instead she stood perfectly still and closed her eyes. Boris’ comrades too were soon floating into the air. She ran up to Matt and Anday. The Kidd’s switchblades fell to the ground. “Are you two okay? How could you possibly be so stupid?!” The Russians shouted insults from the sky but Hannahoko ignored them. Boris screamed something from above and a four shots echoed through the air one right after the other. “You idiots!” Hannahoko yelled at the two before her, “Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve...” Another gunshot rang through the air. She didn’t finish her sentence but instead screamed in pain. She fell to her knees and clutched her shoulder. Blood seeped through the white sleeve of her gown. Boris tried to fire again but his gun clicked empty. He threw it and it landed several feet away from the Commander. Anday dropped to his knees and looked at the Queen, “Are you okay Hannahoko? Here let me look.” Matt looked up at the Russians and said a few unkind words. “I’m fine!” she cried harshly and grimaced, “I’m sorry,” she added, “it just hurts like the dickens. I don‘t think its very bad, though.” Anday lifted her hand and examined the wound. The shot had gone clear through her shoulder and out the other side, luckily it was more of a graze than anything. Several people came out after hearing the gunshots, among them was Erica. “Hannahoko! What’s going on here? I demand to know why three of my best pilots are floating in the sky!” “Shut up!” Anday said contemptuously. “I will not be told to ‘shut up’ but a Kandi!” “We’re not Kandis, Erika,” Hannahoko said quietly, “Look, I don’t know exactly what happened but I assure you apologies will be in order.” “There’d better be! Whose witchcract is holding my pilots aloft??” “Mine, I will let them down, though.” Hannahoko was tempted to let them drop to the ground but instead she floated them softly to the earth. “Hannahoko, I’m surprised at you. You use this evil witchcraft like one of your common peasants?” “It isn’t witchcraft, Erika, and it isn’t evil. Magic is only evil when ill used.” The Queen had her eyes closed while she spoke and her hand was placed over her injury again. Anday stood up and glared at Erika. “Hannahoko had no part in this, she only came here to break up the fight. It was my fault.” Matt the retired physiologist was suddenly beside Hannahoko helping her to her feet. “She is wounded,” he said grimly, “Let her be.” “I’m okay now, Matt, thanks.” Her attitude changed slightly in front of the former physcologist. She seemed to be more submissive and willing to let him rule the situation. “I’m taking her with me,” he said to Erika forcefully and began to lead her away. Erin ran to Hannahoko’s side and took one her good arm around her shoulder. “You okay?” she asked. “Yes,” Hannahoko smiled, “I’m okay, I’m okay.” “We will speak tomorrow, take care of that cut,” Erika called. She turned to her pilots and spoke in Russian. “Boris, Sylvester, and Rodka I presume. Are you proud of yourselves? Boris, you were at the head of this I’m sure?” He did not deny it and Erika slapped him across the face. “Don’t let it happen again. You know why we’re here, if you have any problems come to me first. Come now, we have to clean you up.” Matt and Anday stood alone and both were silent. The Kidd’s head was pounding; he had a terrible case of daja vue. “Matt, I just want to thank you...” The Commanders voice trailed off. Matt shook his head and came out of his daze. “No it’s okay...I just wonder if all Russians can fly.” |