Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

The crew of the Giuffrida was slowly breaking , and Mikah Ulric were now working for the Andara Company. General Zennor was as well, though in the special projects division, dealing with weapons. Doctor Temuchin, married Doctor Varrna Targent, and then took a teaching position with the university. Sharla Danth decided to major in political science so enrolled at the university. As for the others, captain Yarod, Meta Virae, Tarf Edipon, Rek Stirner, and even queen Angelika joined the Falthian navy. Angelika and Captain Aelfric soon joined hands in matrimony, along with doctor's Temuchin, and Targent. Just because they had now split up, didn't mean everyone had all gone their separate ways. Like so many before them, Drolugi's was now becoming a favorite meeting place.

Dori worked her job at Andara four days out of a relfa, inspecting and correcting computer code, or eliminating errors in programming on spacecraft in for repairs. Not long after they met, Jake and Dori were invited along with Moreck and Tarsig to one of the major auctions at Yedor-rus. For once they were in luck, as the wind and sand weren't blowing terribly bad. Most of the larger ticket items required a bid; however there were many items with a set price. Dori was unfamiliar with much of what was being offered, due mainly to the name, however things such as pocket phones, repair 'bot's micro bot's, ballistic calculators, data packs memory diamonds, gravitic generators, all had a counterpart back on Grocyra. As for Jake, he was completely lost.

Coming from a backward planet like Kagor, Jake snapped up a positronic brain, a ballistic calculator, pocket nucleo-bulbs (brighter than any LED flashlight) a lifting suit, a couple brand new repair 'bot's a briefcase console, along with a couple data packs. One thing he was especially intrigued with was a lightsail. Moreck explained,

"As obsolete as these drives are, you'll still encounter them every so often, especially if hyper drive isn't a requirement, and your traveling is mainly in this galaxy." Moreck then chuckled; Tarsig and I have been reviewing the prime directive as it pertains to you and Kagor. Lightsail technology is well over two hundred dorns old, yet it's still too advanced for Kagor, were you to take something like that back to your world, and apply it towards space travel, we would all be in serious trouble." Dori checked out much of what they purchased, finding that everything was in decent repair.

Despite the restrictions of the prime directive Jake had suggested that with Dori's help, it might be possible to incorporate some of this old Falthian tech with Kagorian to come up with something fresh, as well as sufficiently "disguised," to avoid any problems with that pesky prime directive. Then by chance, he served his benefactors hot coffee from his last reserve. Talk soon turned to the feasibility of importing such an amazing beverage back here to Falth.

"I believe it was already done," explained Jake. "My great grandfather told me all the contractors loved the stuff, and even brought back considerable amounts for themselves. I even think he told me about someone named Junni Ordras who ran a small time importing business a long time ago dealing in coffee and peanuts of all things, you might want to check out the records," Tarsig promised to get right on it.

In the meantime, Jake and Dori, with Moreck and Tarsig acting as witnesses's were married in a private wedding ceremony. The honeymoon was taken at Kivasud but not before Tarsig took Dori to her favorite spa where they transformed the young Murgu into a real "drop dead," beauty, Jake simply couldn't believe her transformation.

"Oh they really know "makeover's" explained Tarsig. On their wedding night, Dori explained to Jake all the things they did to her. The thorough massage, the nails, adding just the right amount of green streaks in her hair. Dori then giggled,

"They even placed this little button inside of me. Besides preventing babies until we decide to have a family on our own. They gave me some special cream I'm supposed to apply to your "thing" when we have s*x, it really enhances the experiences, you'll see."

Indeed he did. The s*x they shared was incredible, Dori screamed with ecstasy as Jake pushed ever deeper inside of her. Both now shared an incredible love for each other as their Kivasud honeymoon now came to an end.

Moreck and Tarsig called Jake and Dori into their small office to let them know they might have a means to travel to Kagor.

"After Tarsig started researching the Shai Alyt contractors, and mind you, this was way back between 2026 and 2030, she came up with family and descendants."

"I know," replied Jake, I made some initial contacts, but haven't heard any more."

"Well we've got a Robarik and Farjenka Draaka who have access to a ship."

"Draaka, I've heard that name," replied Jake, I believe Holly Draaka's maiden name was Bickford, Our side of the family has maintained a loose connection with the Bickford descendants, all these dorns now.

"Well I've talked with Robarik who's four times removed from her son J.M." Replied Moreck, "He and his wife promised to stop by in the next una or two."

Jake and Dori finally had a chance to meet Robarik and his wife Farjenka, when they came into Moreck's office. After the introductions were made, Jake said to Robarik.

"As I was telling Mr. Gormeth here, I'm familiar with the Bickford's, although my father and grandfather have actually met some of them. They are all settled out east of us which I'm to understand is where the farm Holly's Uncle owned is located."

"Unfortunately that information has bee lost to us," replied Robarik, "However we do retain a great many photographs taken at the time of my great great grandmother, Holly, and her cousin Andy Bickford, who had apparently traveled here a couple times. His sister Sally married a man by the name of Drokai Malmeck. Since both Bickford's here on Falth were female, that side of the family naturally faded out. We have a son and daughter who are currently serving in the navy, as I once did, but it would seem that if there are any male Bickford's left, they would be living on Kagor."

Robarik produced a number of pictures taken well over a hundred and twenty-seven dorns ago. Jake had seen some of them a long time ago when he was just a boy, and one of the "chosen," male heirs who would be made aware of the unusual family tree.

As he looked at these pictures, he remarked to Mr. Draaka,

"I can't get over how "new," and fresh these pictures look. Obviously they are digital images, something that's only been present on Kagor for less than thirty dorns, yet these were taken so long ago." They continued to discuss the assorted descendants now living on two planets, although it seemed to Jake that those living on earth seemed to be more enthusiastic about their Falthian relatives, than the other way around.

Finally, Jake and Dori were notified that Robarik and his daughter Mokora had arrived at the landing field at Akdor with their spacecraft. It was a very boxy looking craft, high in the center, tapering off at the sides, with an exit door on the right side. Jake thought the nose reminded him of an old WWII bomber.

The ship was painted a sort of flat light green with strange yellow and red numbers and letters on the exterior. Jake was certainly no expert on spacecraft other than the fake ones he'd seen in the movies, but this one seemed rather "well used." When it landed, Robarik, along with an extremely shapely and attractive dark haired woman stepped out.

Jake couldn't take his eyes off the woman, a fact that Dori immediately took note of, and hissing at Jake,

"I suppose you're going to dump me for her?" Quickly turning to her, he shot back,

"Get real Dori, of course I'm not. Sure she's great looking, but I'll bet you even money she's a real bitch." Just then another man stepped out, dressed in civilian attire; Jake thought he might be the woman's husband.

Robarik then introduced everyone,

"This is my daughter Mokora; she will be accompanying us to Kagor, along with Branak Narshu." Jake had heard that name before, but couldn't put his finger on it just yet. With Moreck and Tarsig in tow, everyone got a tour of the unusual craft.

The pilot sat in the middle with his c0-pilot sitting on his lower right the ship's console

on the side.

"Why is this thing so cluttered with equipment? Asked Jake.

"It's an Amulin ship," explained Robarik's daughter Mokora. "The whole ship's like that, the Amulians have never believed in a proper and orderly looking vessel. It has what the Amulians call space warp drive with an Asymptotic drive as a back-up, explained Mokora. Jake smiled at her and commented,

"You seem to know a lot about this type of craft, don't you?" Mokora stopped her explanation, and simply glared at him. Even though she was a Nuel, Jake had seen that look before, it simply said,

"Don't f**k with me pal, or I'll cut your nuts off.

Later, Robarik took him aside and explained.

"You'll have to forgive my daughter for her somewhat rude behavior. She was deeply involved in a love affair that went bad, right now she's rather put out with all males of the species, she's hurting, and her mother and I thought that a trip to Kagor might be a nice change of scene, as well something to take her mind off her pain."

"I see," replied Jake, "Down on men eh? Well I've met those kind before, is she in the navy?" Robarik nodded,

"Just like our whole family. My son Jarnak really wanted to come as well, but he used up all his leave time last alyt. Just be gentle with her, she'll snap out of her funk."

"Or cut my nut's off," thought Jake. Branak then stepped forward and offered his hand.

"My great great grand parents were Karuk and Sara. Her Kagorian name was Blessing."

This made Jake smile,

"Well Mr. Narshu, this should be rather interesting. I'm six times removed from Moreck Gandrigg who's father and brother fought and lost a battle with Robarik's ancestors on the Blessing property, in fact that's where we'll be going, I believe there are quite a number of Blessings there as well, I think you'll have quite a fan base."

"Well it was only by chance Robarik contacted me, having had my family's name for all these dorns, anyway, I'm just glad to be here." Later, as everyone was looking over the ship Jake asked Branak what he did for a living.

"Well, up until last dorn I was a sergeant major in the marines, right now I'm trying to get a position at the national park at Khaibad as a park ranger." Jake snickered,

"Double dipper, eh?"

"I'm not sure what you mean," replied Branak, "I just grew up around that area; I know that park like the back of my hand."

"So you were in the marines?" asked Jake. "The way everybody talks all Falth has is a navy, you never hear tell of any ground forces to speak of. Well meet another ex-marine, I was a first Lieutenant in the United States Marine corps, but instead of retiring, I just had enough of the crap they were playing, and just got out. Did my time in combat, and just had enough." Branak gave him a strange look, then asked.

"You have actually seen combat?" Jake nodded,

"Saw lots of my friends and team mates get killed; currently my country is involved in a rather nasty war, when we get to Kagor I'll show you." Branak seemed to consider all this, then quietly replied,

"I hate to belabor the point, but you have actually led troops in combat?'

"Yeah," replied Jake, is there some sort of problem with that?" Branak shook his head,

"Oh not at all, it's simply that it's been so long since Falth has fought a war, and don't get me wrong, that's a good thing, but there's no one who has actually experienced real combat. Listen, if you're interested, once we get back, I might be able to introduce you to some people I know, if you could put together a training course actually dealing with real combat, you could stand to make a lot of credits, but we'll talk more about that later."

Moreck and Tarsig held a little meeting with Jake and Dori concerning what they were interested in bringing back, although they were left with a certain amount of latitude as far as what they thought might bring a good price back on Falth. Then it was time to say goodbye, and finish packing. Jake was also given varying amounts of precious metal, gold, platinum, and Senarium. Just before they were due to take off, Jake took Moreck aside, and said,

"Believe me, I'm certainly no judge of spacecraft, least of all alien ones, but do me a favor, if we're not back in oh say three months, better send someone to Kagor looking for us." Moreck promised he would.

Once they had left, and were well into space, Jake told Dori the ship reminded him of a submarine. Since she wasn't familiar with what one was, he told her when they were back on Kagor; he'd show her some movies. As things gradually settled down, Jake spent a lot of his time talking with Robarik and Branak, while Dori and Mokora spent time together. Once when Mokora caught Jake admiring her, she made some rather rude remarks, to which Jake replied.

"Look Mokora, I'm sorry you're relationship ended the way that it did, but you certainly haven't been the only one dumped by some jerk. I'll tell you what, and I'll do this because I hate to see a good looking chick such as yourself beat herself up. I've got some friends that would be more than happy to make you happy. I'm not saying all Kagorian males are good guys; we have our share of jerks and assholes as well, but just talk to them. I think that you might find a really good looking guy who would bend over backwards just to have a Falthian woman as a girl friend."