Max and Liz got up quickly and dressed. Max went to the door and let Michael in. “What are you doing here Michael? Who’s in charge?” “Colonel Sams is doing the honors.” “Why are you here?” “I’m sorry Max, but we have a bit of an emergency situation.” Michael handed Max the folder which he had kept close to his side the whole way. Max took a look at the folder, “Holy shit!” “What, what is it?” Liz asked, never before hearing Max talk in that manner before. “One of our spy ships took these pictures. It’s of the enemy’s space station. And judging by the multitude of soldiers we see in these pictures, it looks like they are ready to launch a huge attack on us, and soon,” Michael explained. “Oh my God,” Liz said. “What are you going to do?” “We have to get to them, before they can get to us,” Max said quietly knowing that this meant that his time with Liz would be cut very short. “I talked to General Lemark and he agrees that if we hit soon, we could probably wipe out this station and a good portion of their soldiers,” Michael said. “I agree,” Max turned to Liz, “Liz, I’m sorry, but I have to go, this is important.” “I know. I understand. This is important. Plus, it means one more step ‘til the war’s end.” “Exactly. I’m glad that you are such an understanding girlfriend.” “If we can get Isabel’s orb, we can get back quicker, if not than we will have to send for one,” Michael said. As if on cue, Alex and Isabel knocked on the door. Liz opened it for them. “Hello, hello! Michael?” Alex said “Hi Alex, Iz.” Michael greeted them all, then sent a confused look to the group. “Where’s Maria?” he asked. Liz’s eyes turned sad again as she realized that Maria wouldn’t be able to see Michael, because she ran her off. “She left, because of me,” Liz said sadly. “It was not because of you,” Alex said. “It was all of us.” “Where did she go?” Michael asked concerned now. “We don’t know, she didn’t tell us,” Isabel answered. “Has she called? Do you know if she is ok or not?” Michael asked, fear lacing his voice. “No, we don’t know where she is,” Alex answered this time. “And you are not concerned about this. You have absolutely no idea where she is at and you don’t seem the least bit worried,” Michael’s voice was raising now as he found that Maria was MIA. (Missing In Action, not always used literally) “Michael, she has my car, which means she can’t go too far. I need my car back,” Isabel said. Max tried to change subjects. “Isabel, Michael and I need to get back to our planet quickly, can we borrow your orb?” “Sure,” Isabel said, then realized she had left in her car, “You know what, I am really sorry, I left it in the car. The car is gone with Maria.” “Why in the hell did you put the orb in the car in the first place?” Michael asked really agitated now. “Michael, what has gotten into you? You go off and fight a war, come back and now you are snapping at everyone around you!” Isabel exclaimed. “People change Isabel, get used to it.” Isabel’s face registered pain as she realized that the war was changing both Max and Michael. Max wasn’t as bad as Michael. “You know what, it is a good thing that Maria isn’t here. I think that she would be very disappointed in the way that you are acting. You aren’t the same person anymore. She would probably be afraid of you,” Isabel snapped trying to get her point across. Michael’s chest tightened as he heard the words that Isabel said. Afraid? He would never want Maria to be afraid of him. He shuddered at the thought. He looked at Isabel, then turned around and left the apartment. “Michael! What about the orb?” Max called out. “I’ll get the damn orb, don’t worry about it!” Michael shouted. “He’s upset. He doesn’t usually act like this. I swear. In fact, I don’t think that I have heard him raise his voice in a little over a year,” Max said. Isabel nodded trying to understand. “So, are you going to explain why he is here in the first place?” Alex asked. “We have an emergency back at the station, I need to return, so he came to get me.” “Oh.” Everyone was silent. Happy to be together again, they just sat enjoying the peace that would only last a few moments longer. *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* “Max! Watch out, you have a bogie on your tail!” Michael yelled as he tried to position his ship to fire at the enemy craft. “Michael, don’t worry about me! Bercer has two on him. Help him!” “Sure thing, be careful Max!” Michael said as he flew away to help Bercer who was trailing behind and heading towards the other side of the planet. Max maneuvered left and then right trying to throw the ship’s flying pattern off. It wasn’t working. Max needed to do something quickly because he was headed towards enemy territory. Their space station was up ahead and the shield that surrounded it would instantly kill Max. He thought for a minute and realized that he had the opportunity of a lifetime. He just hoped that the other ship would try it. Max knew the capabilities of the other craft and knew that they weren’t very evasive. The enemy ship would go through the shield with no problems. If Max could maneuver just right, the ship would hit the station. Max flew straight for the station and pulled up just in time to miss the shield. The other ship tried to maneuver up, but found that it was too close to the station to make it and crashed right into it taking the shields down. “Michael! Get your ass over to the enemy station immediately. The shields are down and if you fire now, we can take it out. Bring back-up!” “Sure thing Max, we’re on our way!” Michael led about 15 ships to the station and it was destroyed in a matter of minutes. A triumphant chorus of victory sounded throughout the radios as the soldiers completed their mission. *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* “General Evans, congratulations on your victory. Since you have defeated this station, we will move you and your troops to a new location, the Dezny Station. If you defeat the Freysians at this location, then an assured victory is ours and an end to the war. There you will meet with General Cullers and assume command together. I have just been informed of a new recruit there. A Capt Smith, whom I have been told is an excellent pilot and remarkable in battle. I’m sure that Smith will be a great asset to you. Do you think that you are ready to take this mission?” Max looked at the screen where General Lemark was. “Sure thing Dad,” Max responded quietly. “Max?” “Yah?” “You will be victorious, do not doubt your strength.” “It’s not that Dad.” “Well, then what is troubling you?” “Well, I just realized after seeing Liz , how much I miss her.” “Max, the earth girl will be there when you return. When the war is over, you will see her again.” *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* “Lt. Zolga! Find this earth girl called Liz. She may prove to be a handy tool in this game of war,” the Freysian general commanded. “Right away General Kirnz. What should I do with her, once she is found?” “Bring her to me. We’re going to find out, just how much they love each other,” General Kirnz said while laughing. TBC

Part 3