Planet Doom: Doom Castle
Z'aale Zarkon was preparing to leave Doom to make a long journey. He was going to reunite with his bride.
For now, thanks to an informer on Pollux, he knew where she and his son were -on the planet of Aden, on the far side of the galaxy, near the Frontier.
Aden....how ironic. Zarkon thought.
It was where he took a wife and conceived a son - and now? He would again take a wife but lose a son-a miserable son who had been a thorn in his side for so long.
Z'aale's personal valet/slave packed everything he would need for his reunion for his bride. The cruiser Z'aale would be arriving in was as luxurious as the cruiser his son had stolen. Z'aale made sure there was a fully equiped medbot on board and that his escort ship had a compliment of Doom soldiers. He inspected himself in the mirror, and was satisfied with what he saw. He was younger looking and fit-better than he had been in years. He smiled, for he anticipated being with her more than ever. Dreams of her were not as satisfying......he wanted the reality of her.
Allura...
Z'aale's comm beeped..he answered it. It was Jarius S'aaul Tianus, his new second-in-command.
Z'aale thought, At least he's better to look upon than Cossack was..he looks rather like Lotor.
Z'aale nodded to S'aaul who appeared on-screen.
"You may speak, S'aaul."
S'aaul nodded back and said, "Lord Zarkon, we have just terminated the last of the spies from Arus a few moments ago. Before he expired, he was good enough to give the location of the main meeting area of their network..it is a small tavern on the outskirts of Castle Doom itself, Sire. The trap has been set. We now have the "cooperation" of the barkeep - he will aid us in our plan. Our spies on Arus tell us that they plan on sending someone undercover to infiltrate Doom and find out what happened to their people. Unfortunately, they were unable to find out who this person will be, however they will probably be arriving in a captured Doom vessel."
Z'aale nodded and said, "Good, S'aaul, make it easy for him to get in, but not too easy. It will probably be someone from the Garrison, no doubt. When this person is captured, torture him for information-but do not kill him.
I am told you are good at that - extracting information - S'aaul-it's why you were promoted.Do not fail me. If you succeed, I will reward you richly."
S'aaul remained stoic.
...he's not like Cossack at all....Cossack would have fawning and whining by this time...Z'aale thought.
"And S'aaul..."Z'aale spoke. "I do not wish to be distrubed for a few days at least,unless it is a dire-and I mean dire emergency. I will be with my wife.....you understand I do not want to be distrubed?"
S'aaul said quickly, "It shall be as you command, Sire." Z'aale said,
"Good, also contact our source on Pollux and see what payment she requires for her services. Let her know when I have returned here, I will...consider it. I will be leaving shortly, S'aaul....make sure things run smoothly or it will be your head!"
S'aaul bowed his head to Z'aale, "Yes, sire."
Z'aale closed the transmission, and ordered the slave to load his bags onto the cruiser. As he walked to the cruiser, he smiled inside, knowing soon he would suprise both his bride and his idiot son with his appearance. Ah, yes...it was going to be a wonderful trip...
Keith looked at himself one more time in the mirror to make sure he looked his part for the journey to Doom. He looked like an unshaven slob! He was dressed as a trader and would be piloting a private Doom freighter for the trip. All his papers and ID were in order-nothing was left to chance. He knew what tavern to go to get information on what happened to the spies from Arus. There was a certain barkeep who was a member of the Doom Rebel faction who wanted to free the planet from Zarkon's grasp. He was very reliable and discreet - and most of all-trustworthy.
Keith went to Coran's office and received the Alfor's Code frequency and transmitter he would use on Doom to report back to Coran what he found. Keith left Coran's office thinking that Coran looked noticably chipper this particular morning, which was odd considering the fix they were in.
Keith went to the freighter and powered up the engines. Keith knew this ship could move when it needed to-the Castle mechanics took out the slow freighter engines and replaced them with starcruiser engines. It would be really handy when he needed to make a quick getaway. He missed Black Lion though-but for this trip, he couldn't fly him to Doom-for it would be an instant tipoff. He left Arus' atmosphere smoothly and flew the freighter into the commercial lanes so that he could blend in.
About halfway to Doom, he heard a noise towards the back. Placing the ship on autopilot, he went to check out what it was. Perhaps some of their "cargo" shifted. He went back and looked around-nothing.
Maybe the space mice? Keith thought.
Then he heard it again-it was coming from one of the boxes on the bottom.
Keith lifted the boxes off the bottom, and suddenly, the top flew open and Kate tumbled out!
Keith stood there, mouth agape, then said, "Kate! What the hell are doing here?"
Kate looked at Keith's furious face and thought,...oh boy, I'm in trouble.!!...
She said meekly, "Ah.....checking the inventory?"
Keith hauled her up and said,"You snuck in here, didn't you? I said you couldn't go and you snuck in here anyway. I have half a mind to turn around and go back!"
Kate smiled and said. "Look, I'm sorry,but I had to come-I want to do something! I can be of help! Besides,you're more than halfway there, you can't turn back now. Time is of the essence."
Keith still looked ticked. "Well then, you're staying on the ship."
Kate put her hands on her hips and said, "Oh? Well, if you're going to leave me alone, I might as well do some investigating of my own. I heard Doom's a swell tourist spot, you know, I could go see the Pit of Skulls or Zarkon's monument, or....."
Keith thought, ...I don't know which is worse....Kate with me or Kate by herself....
He said, "All right, all right, you're coming with me, but you've got to promise me you'll keep your mouth shut and don't try anything wild-I know you, Kate....don't give me the innocent look...stick by me or I will put you back in that box and seal you up!"
Kate laughed and then gave Keith a hug. "Thanks, Keith. I won't let you down.I'll be a good girl Honest!"
Keith actually smiled, and looked at her. "I can see you came dressed for the trip.", noting her disguise.
Kate was dressed as a Doom citizen. She looked like a Terran (which there were a mix of Drule and Terran mixes on Doom) and had her pointed ears covered by her hair. She still looked rather exotic in the face though, but she passed inspection. Kate twirled around, modeling her outfit. "Yeah, I'm your wife! Wanna kiss, sweetheart?" she said playfully.
Keith couldn't help but laugh."Hhhmm.....I'll collect on that later,darling!"
Then he got serious. "You need papers, Kate,what about that?" Kate produced some papers and handed it to Keith smirking.
She said, "Ah..you know what Garrison person made your papers? The same one that made mine-me!"
Keith was suprised. ....this girl is something else!
He said, "And where did you learn to do this great talent?" He handed Kate the papers. As she tucked them into her tunic, she said, "Why, from my dad, of course. He did this sort of thing all the time when he was in Recon."
Keith nodded. "So did my dad. But he never had a chance to teach me."
Kate thought, ....he still misses his dad.I miss mine too-my adopted dad-not my real one - may he rot in Hell.
Keith made his way back to the cockpit, turned to Kate and said, "You coming?"
Kate gave him a mock salute and said, "Yessir!"
Keith turned and shook his head, trying not to laugh.Kate's too much sometimes...just too much...