Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 5

Chapter Five Magic In the Air and Moving On

In the meantime the word had gone out, to the Bickford descendents back east, but Angelika on Moreck's advice had decided to return to Mars to try and contact the Falthians. It was also a surprise to them all when a young ex-marine came to the queen and asked.

"Your highness, would it be possible for me to join your crew when you return to Mars?"

"This is a rather unusual request, what is prompting it?"

"Well your Highness, I, uh. There's a young lady in your crew that I have grown rather fond of, and she of me. If this request isn't possible, I will understand."

"It's Dori isn't it?" Jake nodded

"Yes ma'am." Giving the young man a hard look, Angelika said,

"What if something happens and we can't return here, then what, what of your family?"

Jake looked the queen dead in the eye, and replied in earnest.

"Your highness, I'm twenty four years old, recently discharged from the marine corps as a first lieutenant. The corps is heading in a direction I find dangerous and unwise. The country I thought I was fighting for is changing and not for the better. Sad to say many in the armed forces are feeling the way I do. Right now my life is at loose ends. Now a possible opportunity has presented itself. It isn't just Dori, but she has told me all about you and Grocyra. She speaks of you very highly, in short ma'am, this looks like something I'd really like to be part of."

The queen continued to study this young man, perhaps he could be useful,

"Would you be willing to advise me on all matters concerning this planet? I'm told there are many countries that make up the planet, not all of them friendly, then there's the matter of your solar system."

"Your highness, what I don't know I can access. Believe me ma'am, I'm no slacker, I've been in heavy combat, I know war, all I ask is that you give me a shot."

"Well things might be a little cramped, but since you and Dori have found each other, all right, if you have anything to bring with you I would pack right away, I plan to leave later tomorrow."

"Say no more your highness, I don't live that far away, I shall return."

Shortly before they were scheduled to leave, Jake showed up carrying two duffle bags and a couple of gun cases. Shortly thereafter, Moreck called everybody to his kitchen where he addressed Angelika and her crew, with his family looking on.

"The best I can tell you is to try and contact my people, tell them of me, and just see where things go. If you can, try and make it back here one more time, bring my countryman if they'll come. I'm very old now, I certainly never thought I'd live this long, I don't have much time left."

Jake and his parents shared an emotional good-bye, they wishing he wouldn't go, he telling them opportunities like this only came along once in a lifetime, and that if they returned here he would see them one more time.

"Mom, dad, I know you hated it when I was deployed, but it is my life. I'm hoping there might be a chance I can travel to this Falth. Ever since I was a little kid, Uncle Moreck used to tell me stories of growing up on Falth, then all those other's who went."

"I think it's time, someone else from earth makes the trip again." Before they departed, captain Yarod mentioned to Jake that they had a chest of rocks and dirt from Mars.

"We promised to bring some back here, but we don't want to take the chance your people would capture us"

"Good point," replied Jake, I think I know where you could leave that chest where the authorities wouldn't get you, yet you can tell them exactly where it is later. Here, I'll show you." Before they left earth, one more stop was made, atop of the Devil's Tower monument, where Jake and Tarf dragged the chest out. Marking it with a home made flag, they quickly left again. Jake then explained to everybody about a video made a number of years ago used this site as the first time meeting place between aliens and earthmen.

"This will really freak them out, when you tell NASA where they can find their Mars rocks."

During the flight Jake made friends with everyone, doing everything asked of him. Since there were only ten cabins, he stayed with Dori in her room. Besides her, Jake and Tarf struck up a relationship. They talked weapons with Jake showing Tarf the M4 AR as well as the auto shotgun and .45 auto he had brought along. Having never been in a real shooting war, Tarf and even general Zennor were impressed with Jake's record.. For his part, Jake was completely awed by the fact that he was traveling through space and not having to wear a spacesuit, and that there was gravity in the they arrived back at the Falthian base, Jake and Dori had to double up again, but they didn't seem to mind, both loved each other deeply. Jake realized that if he were going to stay he's have to make himself useful, so he pitched in helping Dori and Mikah with translations, as well as information about earth they might not otherwise get.

However, one of the things he taught the Grocyians was Texas Hold-em poker. Thinking he was going to have an easy time of it, he underestimated the Grocyian intellect. Soon, poker was the rage at the base, three sets of fresh cards having to be made on the ship's 3D copier. Immediately upon return, they notified NASA that a box of rocks and dirt from Mars had been left on top of Devils Tower, Jake laughing and shaking his head wishing he could see the government going after the treasure. The transmitter antenna was then directed towards the coordinates of Falth. Not knowing exactly how far the planet was from earth, they continued to broadcast for close to a month, before returning the transmitter back to earth. The people at NASA informed them that the box of material from Mars had been recovered.

"We thank you for those samples, it's a shame you couldn't stop by and say hello. It's amazing that you came and went without our knowledge."

"They are furious that you snuck through the radar," snickered Jake.

"We also wish to thank you for upgrading the rover. The pictures are wonderful, we haven't had any glitches, but weren't sure what that is on the back."

Queen Angelika jumped to the microphone and replied,

"It's just a little reminder of who's in charge around here." Jake shouted from the background,

"Hey! NASA, My name is Jake. I wont tell you my last name, because I don't want you harassing my family, but I'm now the first American on Mars, all you other wanna-be's check it out, an American is on Mars, or I should say queen Angelika's Mars."

"Please," came an upset voice, "You will just upset people."

"Ask me if I care!" responded Jake. "I've been looking at all this technology, it makes anything on earth look like crap, and you know, we could have had all this as well, an American spacecraft could be sitting outside, but the stinking politicians decided the free-s**t army needed their "goodies," and big screen TV's, think about it." Sharla looked at him and asked.

"What was that all about?"

"Just a little editorializing," replied Jake, "But it's the damned truth."

Once things settled down, Jake sat down with Dori and Rek, asking about their race, and outlook on life. He was also keenly interested in Tarf's background, as well as that of Mikah. When Jake first arrived, He kept deferring to the queen's presence. Whenever she would enter the lounge he'd call out,

"Attention on deck! Or immediately jump up whenever she came into the room. Finally Sharla took him aside and said.

"What is with all this jumping up or calling out attention whenever Angelika comes into the room."

"Why not?" replied Jake. "She's the queen. I was trained and taught to show respect to royalty, or leaders." Sharla grinned, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Angelika appreciates your deference to her leadership, but it's really not necessary

around here Jake. You were confusing her at first by your actions, but I told her it was because you're new and weren't familiar with our ways. Believe me, she appreciates your acknowledgement of her stature, but you're a part of our crew now, so a friendly greeting in the morning will do." Jake shrugged, but added,

" I will still offer her my chair if they're all occupied."

"You "earthing's" are simply amazing," replied Sharla, "But there's no need to stand up when she enters a room."

"Understood," replied Jake.

"Oh one more thing," added Sharla, "About you and Dori."

"Aren't I supposed to be seeing her?" questioned Jake.

"Oh no, you're fine," replied Sharla, your romance is the talk of the crew, young

Dori has calmed down, you've given her something in life, someone to love, which by the way you seem to be having no trouble with that heh, heh. Just be careful, she's young and impressionable, you are her first love, her heart is very fragile."

Jake nodded, and put his head down for a moment, before saying.

"Sharla, I really can't say what it is, but five minutes after we sat down and just talked a little bit, I knew she was for me. Then I got scared, wondering how I could ever convince the queen to leave her on earth with me. Then I wondered how I could convince her to stay with me. Well, you know how things turned out. I guess that's one of the reasons I think so much of Angelika, she made it possible for us to be together. Sharla, I don't know what I could ever do without her, I don't know what you folks have in the way of marriage ceremonies, but I want to marry that girl so badly."

"You really love her that much don't you?"

"Oh God yes, Sharla, I can't put my finger on it, but there's just something about her." Sharla chuckled, "I'll speak with Angelika, we'll see what we can come up with."

About two weeks later, Jake and Dori were working the "dog watch," as Jake called it when static started coming over the speaker,

"This is Navy FXMC calling Hych 3, Falthian navy calling the Hych 3 monitoring base, who is down there?" Jake looked at Dori and asked,

"Are they talking to us, what is this Hych 3 ?"

"Must be their name for this place," replied Dori, "Better answer them."

Jake took his feet off the consol and shouted down the hall,

"Attention on deck! We've got a call from the Falthian's coming in. In seconds, the crew came pelting out of their rooms at this new development. Jake then responded to the call.

"This is lieutenant Gandrigg, I am a member of Queen Angelika's crew. She is from the planet of Grocyra." There was a moment of silence, as the rest of the crew gathered around Jake and Dori.

"I don't understand your language very well, Gandrigg, Gandrigg, that is a Falthian surname, are you Falthian."

"No sir," replied Jake, however my great great grandfather was."

"Who exactly is down there?" came the reply, "Are you Falthian or not?"

"Look sir," carefully replied Jake, "I am a member of queen Angekika's crew. With the exception of me, the rest are from the planet Grocyra."

"Grocyra," came the reply, "Where is that? If you're not from this planet Grocyra, where are you from?"

"I'm from earth, or as you call it…Kagor!"

"Kagor! What is a Kagorian doing in our base, are you part of a Kagorian scientific or military expedition?"

"No sir I am not, however I am from Kagor, like I told you, my great great grandfather is a Falthian. Currently he is one hundred and forty-six dorns old, not much time to live."

"This is Falthian navy craft FXMC…Wait one."

A few minutes later a reply came back over the speaker.

"Whoever you are, do not show any signs of aggression, or we will destroy you, we are coming down. Open the hanger door, again I repeat, do not attempt to attack, or show any signs of aggression, is that understood?'

"Falthian navy ship," replied Jake, "This is the Falthian Mars base, we will exhibit no signs of aggression, we will await your arrival."

"Well," sighed general Zennor, I guess we find out if Moreck was right about his countrymen, they have us boxed in." Angelika gave a weak chuckle,

"Maybe my charm will do the trick?"