Angel Wings Ch 52 ‘Garner’s Mysterious Relay’/\'Annie Oakley-AD 2251 Style’

Folks this fine laddie is Ichigo Kurosaki the Bleach Soul Reaper with his trusty zampatou Zangetsu.

Here’s a pix of the Flash Angels and I call it ‘When ya wish upon a star?’- It’s from the end theme credits of one of the Flash eppys.

AW Ch 52 ‘Garner’s Mysterious Relay’ or ‘Annie Oakley- AD 2251 Style’
‘Blonde Bomber’/'Kitten’ Minnie Mae Hopkins the ace running back and her crafty coach Rally ‘Cat’ Vincent of Kei’s Killers! Did they win? Hell no! Now there’s more trouble afoot besides Z.O. and Garner cannot wait to tell our fearless leader all about it but there is good news too- The firebrand Amazon Hellcat gets to show off a little bit!
This chapter is re skullduggery and an ion cannon exhibition with a few twists that would make Annie Oakley green with envy tomos mine!
ANGEL WINGS
DISCLAIMER: OK ‘Cheska’ darlin’, it’s all yours. First I wanna thank Mr T for the use of his Angels and stuff. Then I wanna thank everyone else who has been allowing us to use their creations here like Thom Beers for the use of his ice road truckers Hugh, Drew, Rick, Eric, Alex and Bear. I took the liberty of naming the 3WA academy in Furool City on Shimougou after Mr Haruka Takachiho in honour of his creations- the Angels. How was that, Yuri? Great, kiddo. Oh hai it sure was, Kei! Now since we left ya up in the air last time let’s get to Ch 52 without any further meandering, shall we? Why is Zack Zero back and oro does he want with Suba Marina Oki? Can Mandy keep her big mouth shut? A hint re the titles- Aw do ya expect me to spoil it for ya? Oro does this all mean? We’ll find out momentarily gang. The Boss Red Marshall’s on the warpath again! Here ’tis:-
CHAPTER 52
‘Garner’s Mysterious Relay’ or ‘Annie Oakley- AD 2251 Style’
‘Yeah Neko? Oro is it?” trilled the redheaded Boss lady.
“Mr Garner’s on two for ya. I’ve patched him through to your quarters, mum.” trilled the nekomata/trill/human Neko Olson. Kei sighd and poured out a tumbler of ‘Jamesons’ for herself.
“Fine. Arigatou (Thanks) Neko.” she trilled and punched up vidscreen two. “Hiya Uncle Charlie. Sorry but we’re gonna be a tad late getting home, sir. Ya see–” began Kei.
“Don’t say anything more over this line, Deirdre. Relay me back on the ‘Bounts’ line. Understand? The ‘Bounts’ line and no other. Ask Mr Kurosaki or Miss Kutschki how many were left in the land of the living before the battles began. Use that line to contact me. Garne out.” replied Territorial Sector Chief Charles Augustus Garner cryptically. Kei nodded and waved as her vidscreen went blank.
“Rukia Kutschki! Ichigo Kurosaki! My quarters-stat! On the double and that’s an order! Kei out!” barked the Marshall over her suite’s PA mike. Five minutes lter her portal klaxon chirped.
“It’s open. Come.” she called and Ichigo came in followed by a sleepy Rukia who was yawning and rubbing her fuzzy aizu (eyes).
“You wanted us, ma’am?” asked the orange-haired youth who was carrying a gigantic ‘zambatou’ (sword) across his back. He stood and saluted, however, Rukia had already dropped into an easy chair.
“Onegai (Please) make this quick, Boss. We just got off a double guard shift. Damned Harlock.” she complained.
“Sure. I just need to ask you guys something. How many ‘Bounts’ were there in the land of the living before the big battle? In total I mean?” demanded their commander.
“How the Hell do you know anything about ‘Bounts’, Reds?” whispered an astonished Ichigo.
“Yeah! How? And why do you want to know that information now, ma’am?” asked a suddenly no longer drowsy Rukia. Kei bristled.
“A lucky Fxxxing guess dammit! This is serious so just answer my shimatta question will ya, Soul Reapers?” growled Kei.
“Nine in all, ma’am.” stated Ichigo and Rukia nodded.
“Yup. Nine. There was Kamiya their leader and then there was–” began Rukia who was ticking off ‘Bounts’ on her fingers.
“Never mind kid. I just needed the total original number of ‘Bounts’. I apologize for disturbing ya. You’re both dismissed. G’Night.” interrupted the Boss and hinted that she wanted them both gone. The two reapers left and Kei trilled Neko.
“Neko, listen very carefully and do exactly oro I tell ya to do. Relay a call to Garner and then patch it through to my ready room on Tach Nine, however, first scramble and encode that line for a double red/blue/green/white security clearance aizu (eyes) only transmission. Then trill me back. Remember- Tach Nine. Kei out.” Kei trilled and began dressing.
“Charlie must figure on a breach in our relay system and if he’s that Fxxxing worried he’s probably called a top level meeting with all the big wigs so I’d better be in uniform when his relay comes through.” she thought while she cinched her tie and tucked in her shirt. Her dress magenta/black Marshall’s tunic jacket was really heavy wit all the pips, epaulettes, ranking bars, medals and decorations that the redhead had earned which adorned it. Kei was seated at her ready room desk with her booted feet up on her consol when Neko trilled her back.
“Boss? The big cheese is on nine. Neko out.” she trilled.
“Arigatou. Bye Neko.” trilled the redhead punching up vidscreen nine. “OK Charlie. Oro’s with all this cloak and dagger crap? Yabeen hangin’ around Jimmy Bond again?” chortled the Boss. Garner was not smiling.
“Deirdre, you may have a spy onboard who is reporting to Zorin Oakenshield. We have detected transmissions from your ‘Angel 2′ to ‘Remus’ (a sister world to ‘Romulus’ in the ‘Orion Nebulae’) but we can only tell you that the signal originated at some level above Surface Deck Six so it must have come from seven, eight or nine, kid.” explained Garner. He fired up a cigarette and swallowed some ‘Hydroxylein’ (an antacid for the chief’s sour stomach). Kei bit into her cheroot and pouredout three more fingers of her ‘golden elixir’ before she replied.
“So it came from either our star room, holodecks or command deck eh? It could even have originated from this very room, Charlie. Is that oro the Hell you’re saying, me old boyo?” asked the Boss.
Garner nodded. “That’s about the size of it, my dear which is why I didn’t want you to reveal your ship’s exact loction to me over an unsecured line. Now then- where exactly are you?” he asked. Kei locked her deep emerald aizu (eyes) on his myopic grey ones.
“I got no Fxxxing idea orosoever, Chuck. Gene brought us here but he won’t tell me where ‘here’ is. I’m pretty sure both Han and Jimbo know but they ain’t alking. Sorry Charlie.” apologized Kei.
“Gene? Oh you mean Starwind eh? And Hawking and Solo aren’t talking either? (Garner chuckled) OK I got a pretty good idea where you are and why They won’t tell you anything, me kawaii (lovely) colleen.” chortled a grinning Garner.
“So where are we dammit?” growled the impatient redhead.
“A very small atoll of an asteroid just brely within ‘Bison Fields’- ‘XANA’. It’s where the ‘Coralians’ offload contraband hooch like ‘Aoishi Ale’ (An illegal ‘Romulan’ import this heady stuff was blue in colour and quite potent- 250 proof) and other taboo niceties like weapons and stolen merchandise, Deirdre. Don’t forget that as far as those laddies go you are still a cop which is why they didn’t tell you, love.” replied Territorial Sector Chief Garner. Slowly understanding dawned on her and the tro-con nodded her head.
“So that’s why Gene confined all of us aboard to the caves here and wouldn’t allow on the surface eh? OK I’m hidingout right here until Oakenshield is either nabbed or iced. That shouldn’t take much longer since the littl despot has got a hundred million woolong bounty on his head- dead or alive. Until then we are staying put, sir.” said Kei.
“That’s a good iea, kiddo. Who the Hell put out a hundred million woolong bounty on Z.O. I wonder?” mused Charlie.
“Uh- ‘God Almighty’ did, Charlie.” replied the Boss. Garner was astonished.
“Galadriel did? A little loose with the purse strings, ain’t he?” observed her chief.
“Well he’d damned well better be if he wants old Zorin reeled in, sir. (She hesitated) OK I put that bounty out on him and authorized the C mill bounty, Mr Garner.” admitted the feisty tro-con.
“You did!!” he roared and Kei nodded. “Then ‘God’ had better ante up especially if one of those renegade ‘cowboys’ finds him for us.” chuckled Garner. Then his face hardened into Kelvinite. “Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again. Do you understand me, Deirdre?” he added softly.
“Nai (No) sir, I sure won’t. I swear it, sir.” replied the chastised tro-con.
“Stay there until you hear from me and try and find that aent. Be careful not to tip your hand. I don’t want him or her finding out we are onto them.” ordered her superior and Kei nodded and changed the subject.
“Anything new from ‘Romulus’, Charlie? That’d be all that we need now- another frigging war.” grumbled the redhed.
“The ‘Romulan High Command’ has advised us that they are fully prepared to defend their throne from Oakenshield. To that end the ‘UG’, te ‘ISSP’, ‘Interpol’, ‘Starfleet Command’ and the ‘Galactic ommand’ have all sent fighters and battle cruiser units to assist ‘Romulus’ in fighting off any invasion forces.” said a grim-faced Garner.
“Surely with a hundred million bounty on his ass he wouldn’t still–” began a flustered Kei bu Chuck Garner had anticipated her question and interjected the answer.
“Invade ‘Romulus’? Don’t be so naive, Marhall. He’s insane. Of course he’ll still invade but he still needs a flag starship for his command post so I’ve doubled the guards at all 3WA bases in this sector and I am ordering you and the ‘Lovely Angel 2′ and all aboard her to stay put until further notice no matter what. Kapish? (Kei nodded glumly and scowled at him) Good. It shouldn’t be too much longer, Deirdre. Sayonara. Garner out.” he replied and signed off. Kei blankedher vidscreen and stubbed out her cheroot. “Shit!” she intoned to herself.
“Christ Almighty! Stuck in this hol for Kami knows how bloody long! Might just as well wait for ashita (tomorrow) to drop that bombshell on ‘em. Maybe I can finally get in some shooting practice.” said Kei aloud.
“Yeh Boss. I’d love to see that and so would the rest of us, ma’am. Why not use the holodecks to put on an exhibition of your shooting skills?” trilled Neko Olson.
“Neko! ere you eavesdropping on that relay call? Dammit answer me, Olson!” thundered Kei angrily.
“Just the last part when you said about shooting practice, Boss. I’d never evr listen in on a private relay call, ma’am. I swear it.” trilled th nekomata/human/trill girl. Kei thought for a minute or two.
“Maybe you are right, ‘Kitty Kat’. I mean about puttin’ on a show for the gang. Ya may as well kno this now since it’ll be common knowledge in the morning anyway. Garner’s ordered us to stay put until further notice. Right here at–” trilled Kei before Neko cut heroff.
“At ‘XANA’. Right Boss?” she trilled.
“Yeah but how’d you know?” trilled Kei. She giggled.
“Christ Reds! Just about everyone aboard knows where we are! You knew, didn’t ya?” she trilled.
Not until Charlie Garner told me five minutes ago I didn’t dammit.” trilled the redhead.
“I’m a pirate, Boss. Remember? Most of us aboard operate a bit, shall we say, outside the law so of course we know about this place- the ‘Coralian’ relay drop point. Gene didn’t tell ya because you’re a cop but then again Solo and Hawking were both sure that ya already knew this was ‘XANA’, Reds. Now about this shooting demonstration of yours–” trilled Neko.
“Oro the Hell. Sure I’ll do it for ya. Better than another damned football game eh? We can’t use the holodecks though- too small. I got it. That old range down belowdecks on Sub Four where you took the Ice Brigade to practice marksmanship. There’s plenty of room down there for everyone to watch. We’ll hold it there. I’ll get ‘CC’ to set up some sort of program for tomorrow aftenoon after lunch. Maximum distance and combat mode targets. Mark XIII ion cannons. That all sound OK to you?” trilled a suddenly excited tro-con.
“Sounds like a plan to me, ma’am. Will ya toss in a few blindfolded trick sots for me? Onegai? Kawaii onegai ni sakura on top (Pretty please with cherry blossoms on top)?” trilled Neko.
Kei shrugged. “Why the Hell not? Consier it done, kiddo. Pass the word that I’m briefing everyone aboard ashita at ten hundred (10 AM). Got that, ‘Kitty Kat’?” trilled the redhead.
“Yup. Got it, Reds. Mum’s the word on the show eh? Don’t worry. I won’t spoil your surprise, Marshall Reds.” she trilled.
“I’ll get ‘CC’ to make that announcement during lunch, kid. One more thing, Olson. Stop calling me Rds. G’Night kiddo.” chuckled Kei.
“Nighty night Boss.” giggled Neko.
Kei gave precise instructions to ‘CC’ who readily promised to have everything belowdecks prepared by 1400 (2 PM) tomorrow afternoon. He swore he wouldn’t make the announcement before ashita’s lunch hour. Then Kei sealed her ready room, rode the lift don to her quarters and turned in. The firebrand didn’t think that she was really that tired yet she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillows.
At 400 the follwing afternoon everyone aboard except for the flight crew, guards and the engineering gang were gathered in the old shooting range belowdecks on Subsurface Level Four listening to ‘CC’s introductions and those that were on duty were watching on vidscreens or PDOs. Four hours earlier Kei had given them the bad news- they were to remain in the caverns until Garner decided otherwise. They were pretty downtrodden until ‘CC’s announcement of this afternoon’s entertainment came at lunch. Practically everyone there had gone wild. After all it wasn’t too often that an expert marksman of the Boss’s calibre agreed to show off their firearms and fighting skills to the general public.
Accordingly by 1400 hours there was SRO (Standing Room Only) for the exhibition and show.
“Ladies and gentlemen! May I have your attention please! Welcome to Miss O’Halloran’s expert marksmanship exhibition and show! This afternoon’s programme shall consist of three separate parts.
First and formost our fearless leader will be firing at stationary targets preset at the distance of 350 metres (about 400 yards or 1,200 feet- the average length of a par four in golf. Mouths sagged open in awe).
Next shall be combat mode shooting in the ‘Village’ where our esteemed leader will be forced to pick and choose her targets with care since innocent bystanders and law enforcement officers will be interspersed with the fugitives and desperadoes. The targets also shoot back and since the Boss will be wearing full battle armour for this demonstration Miss O’Halloran has insisted on live ammunition, not blanks.
Therefore, please remain behind those Kelvinite and force beam energy barrier shields at all times for your own safety folks!
Lastly she’ll be doing som fancy trick shooting for us by special request (Neko blushed) which shall be of various types. Mirror image deployment, firing over and around her shoulders, firing around and between her legs, backward shooting and firing while blindfolded. Again this will be a live fire exercise. Be warned and take heed to this statement. A blast from an ion cannon can easily maim, wound or even kill so onegai refrain from leaving the protection of those Kelvinite and energy beam barrier shields!
And so without further ado here is our own esteemed fearless leader Marshall Keirran Maureen Deirdre O’Shaughnessy O’Halloran. (Kei stepped forward and gave the galactic salute. Then she raised her hands over her head with interlocked fists while she acknowledged the audience’s wild applause) Miss O’Halloran will be using a hand held Mark XIII ion cannon (Rukia held one aloft) for all of this afternoon’s shooting. Madam Marshall, the stage i now yours.” finished ‘CC’ as Kei stepped into the arena and removed battle armour, bandoliers and weapons belts. She slammed a power pack into the cannon and charged it.
Taking careful practiced aim (Of course she was showing off folks! We alll know by now that the Boss is an expert- a crack shot!) she began firing at the first of an even hundred targets on the range while ‘Artok’ kept intoning her running score in a bored and sing-songy voice.
“Hit. Dead centre bull. Hit. Dead centre bull. The same again. Ditto. Likewise. Again. Need you ask? Guess oro folks? She did it again. And again. again.–” announced the junior ‘CC’ program until finally “Final shot. Dead centre bull. One hundred points. A perfect score. Congratulations. Now here’s ‘CC’ again.” finished a beaming ‘Artok’.
“Well done, tomo Boss. Please resume your armour and gear for the next segment- combat mode shooting. When you are ready onegai stand on that white square and say ‘Ready’ at which time I will activate all the targets in the ‘Village’ for you.” said ‘CC’ and Kei zipped up her armour, buckled on both weapons belts and slipped crossed bandoliers of power packs across her chest and shoulders. Then she strode to the starting block, bobbed her head curtly and growled “Ready, me boyo.”
“Village targets are now active. Good luck, my tomo. Go!” cried ‘CC’ a tad excitedly. Kei began her stroll down the main thorughfare until–
“Halt!” shouted a shadowy figure from the alley at the end of the road. The redhead whipped out her cannon but did not fire on Territorial Sector Chief Charles Augustus Garner- this time. (For an explanation read about Kei’s earlier shooting matches in Xmas and earlier in this Wings work)
However, a gunsel and two kidnappers she did waste but not their kidnapped hostge- a small child.
“Three down and seven to go.” advised ‘Artok’. (The ‘Village’ has ten potential targets)
Continuing her ‘Dirty Harry’ walk she suddenly spun and opened fire on a pair of bank robbers who dodged her bolts and dived through the open windows of their getaway land speeder.
“Two points off for those two misses, ma’am. Sorry. You are back to a single point, Mar–” began ‘Artok’ just as Kei blew the fuel cells on the speeder to Hell and back again! The vehicle exploded into nano-atoms.
“Correction. First two points added to score plus three more for the robbers and driver brings your total to six with four remaining, ma’am.” corrected ‘Artok’ while Kei sidearmed a killer and shoved her Mark into his gut. She fired twice.
“Seven and three.” intoned ‘Artok’ disgustedly. He really wanted Kei to miss- just once. Like that was ever gonna happen!
Two more gunmen soon followed the killer to ‘Otherworld’ and Kei ejected her spent pack and reloaded her cannon.
“That makes nine, tomo Boss Lady. One more left. Be very careful, love.” advised ‘Artok’ as a flash of blinding white ripped through the town.
Kei ducked and managed to charge her weapon. Lying prone she pumped six bolts into the now darkened alley whence the light had come. Clang! The sound of ion bolts striking metal! Kei rolled into a sitting position facing the alley and a huge fighting Gundam! Leaping aside just in time to avoid a nasty plasma blast she fired twice more to no effect. Three more bolts later the feisy Hellcat realized that her shots were ineffective against Kelvinite 36X so she stuck her now useless Mark into her bandolier belts and leaped astride the Gundam!
Gaining its top she crashed her booted feet through the Gundam’s windscreen and yanked ‘Max Berringer’ the ‘Ash Grey Avenger’ himself (see DP Flash/Act 3/Final episode) from the control cockpit and twisted his neck forcefully until everyone heard an audible sickening Crack! and then a very loud snap. A cheer broke out from the crowd.
“And ‘Max Berringer’ makes ten. Another perfect score and no innocent bystanders were harmed. Ditto for law enforcement people. Good shooting, Madam Marshall.” shouted ‘Artok’ to be heard over the din.
“Finally we will have our final segment of today’s fine progrmme- the trick shooting segment. However, first we will have a fifteen minute intermission to reset the fields of fire,. Replicators have been provided for your convenience and rest rooms are just across the corridor. I’ll see all of you back here at 1600 that is four o’clock folks.” said ‘CC’. Then he and ‘Artok’ bgan resetting the targets for the final phase of the exhibition.
Don Poporo and Anton Gustav were busily engaged in collecting their winnings from the NASA and the scientific crowd who had actually been baka (crazy) enough to bet ‘against’ the Boss!
“Two grand in Universal credits, Willy! Oro’s your haul, man?” crowed Don.
“Almost a thousand in credits not counting the woolongs and dollars, Don! Terra’s PT Barnum said it- there really is on born every minute!” agreed Anton just as the ‘G Twins’ (Garner and Gooley) materialized on the huge vidscreen in the hallway. Chuck Garner was facing Gustav while Poporo was suddenly staring down Andy Gooley!
“Congratulations are in order, gentlemen. Those winnings will, of course, be donated to the 3WA’s benevolent fund for the less fortunate. Correct? Don’t you think that would be the charitable thing to do, Chuck?” said Gooley the Aquarian Galaxy Chief.
“Hai (Yes), it certainly would, Andy. Now we all know that two of our esteemed and honourable of our cadre of sector chiefs would never place a wager with anyone while engaged on a mission fo us. Am I correct in that assumption, Andre?” replied Garner who was the Territorial Sector Chief and just slightly Gooley’s superior being second only to the great Galadriel himself. The bettors exchanged glances.
“Oro a coincidence, sirs! That is exactly oro we were about to do with our winnings. Right Don?” said Anton and Don (Mr Popo) Poporo nodded dejectedly. Both supriors winked and grinned.
“Keep a hundred apiece of woolongs, credits and dollars, boyos. Those stuffed shirt medicos from Terra will think twice before underestimating our Deirdre again! Good show so far.” chortled Garner.
“You mean our Katie, Charlie.” corrected Gooley. He and Vito Galadriel were the only two people who could get away with calling Kei ‘Katie’ even though her real name of ‘Keirran’ in Celtic Gaelic could mean either ‘Karen’ or ‘Katherine’.
Anton smiled and patted his compadre’s shoulder. “Oh well a hundred or so is better than rei (zero, nothing) eh Don?” comforted Willy and Don managed a wan smile for his tomo.
“Let’s get a drink, pal. I’m buying. You coming, Don?” he added.
“Damned right I’m coming, Willy-San! It ain’t often you spring for anything, man!” replied Mr Popo as he followed him to the nearest ‘Repper’. Then the loudspeakers came to life.
“Our show starts up again in sixty seconds, gang. Please return to your seats.” announced ‘CC’ and they all trooped back to their seats behind the shields.
For the conclusion to our fine programme today Miss O’Halloran would like all of those present to know that she will not, I repeat, not be using battle armour, ‘Mithril’ (Elven chained mail- a present from ‘Celsia’ and her ‘ThoseWho Hunt Elves’ companions) nor any other form of protection for the remainder of this show. (The watchers stared at each other. The chiefs grinned and Gooley poured java all over the table). In addition (”There’s more?” shouted Andy Gooley from ‘Yars VI’ where the had both been flown aboard the ‘Balsa’ when the Z.O. icident had first started a few days ago. Their pilot had been a bright redhead (Nai (No) not that one!) named ‘Lt Kallen Steadfast’ of the ‘Black Knights’ which group had recently volunteered their services to and been accepted by the ‘UG’ and the 3WA who figured they’ need all the bloody help they could get if Zorin laid his mitts on a flag starship!)
In addition she wishes to prove that she is not concealing anything up her sleeves either so–” began a flustered ‘CC” when Kei strode up to the firing boxes and smiled.
“So although our superios will not allo me to perform for you ‘au natural’ I will prove I am hiding nothing beneath my garments.” she said and Chuck Garner dropped an unopened bottle of Inverness whiskey.
She quickly doffed battle armour, weapons belts, bandoliers, uniform, tee shirt and ‘Mithril’ mail underall garment leaving the tro-con in tank top and underbriefs.
“She never said anything about going for an ‘X’ rating dammit!” howled Anton Wilhelm Gustav. “Take it all off, baby!” yelled Donald Poporo until Kome kickedhim in the shins.
Standing before them in her unmentionables Kei turned about several times. “Nothing under here at all. See?” she said while Jonthan Harlock, Emma Emeraldas and Neko Olson were engaged in examing every scrap of cast off attire.
“There be naething wha’soe’er concealed in these articles of claething.” informed Jon in his soft Scots burr. Then he, his neice Emma and his navvie Neko took their seats once more. Chuck and Andy had buried their faces in their hands jsut as the Amazon had begun her ‘Gypsy Rose Lee’ number but now they glanced up. By now Kei had pulled on tee shirt, uniform pants and retrieved her cannon.
“I sure hope ‘God’ didn’t see any of that, Charlie.” said Gooley.
“If he did we’ll know soon enough, Andy, that we surely will.” replied Garner.
Kei had slammed in a power pack and charged her cannon. She waited until Legato Bluesummers gave her the high sign and then began a series of trick shots that the ancient Terran ‘Annie Oakley’ would have envied- a Helluva lot! At last she turned her back to the target- a spinning roulette wheel of white clay smoking pipes. Then she slid her Kelly green headband down until it covered both of her kawaii aizu (lovely eyes) and fired over her shoulder, around her arms and through herlegs in turn, each shot destroying one of the whirling pipes.
“For her final trick, Miss O’Halloran will stand in front of a moving mobile automaton target- blindfolded. This target will be firing at her the entire time and both she and the target will be using live ammunition, my tomos. Good luck Kei.” shouted ‘CC’ excitedly. Charles Garne leaped to his feet and dropped a second unopened bottle of Inverness Skotch whiskey.
“The Hell they will!! This farce has lasted long enough dammit! This show is over!” he yelled while pounding his fist on the table and spilling java all over Andre.
“Osawaru Chuckie-San! Sit down and shut the Fxxx up, Chief! This is my ship and I got the final say aboard her! This show will continue and I assure you that everything will be A-OK! Trust me!” bellowed Kei who was still blinfolded and had been led by Yuri to the starting white square.
“This is it, kiddo. Here. Make ‘em count, airhead!” whispered Yuri Donovan and she pressed the fully loaded and charged cannon into the redhead’s fist.
“Not to worry, vacuumhead. I can ‘hear’ that target’s movements just swell. I’ll be OK, kid. Now go find a good seat.” whispered the smiling firebrand redhead to the worried violet-maned vixen.
“Attention! We must now have absolute silence for this ending ten bolt finale!” intoned ‘CC’.
Garner dropped his cigar in his lap and jumped up shouting. “Six bolt finale dammit! Roku! Six, not ten, Deirdre!” he yelled.
“Yeah! Six, Katie, Six!” cried Gooley. Kei fumed but took a deep breath, exhaled it and nodded OK. She raised the cannon and fired four bursts into the air. She succeeded in bringing down one of the swinging chandeliers which fell with a crash in front of Ella Hathaway who spilled grape knee-high all over Keitarou Reef.
Suddenly without warning– Foom! Foom! Foom! came the automaton’s first bolts. Kei dodged them effotlessly and fired three quick blasts of herown, each one striking its mark.
“Three- nil in favour of our leader. Three to go, Boss.” announced ‘Artok’ just before Kei winced in pain as an ion charge seared he left shoulder blade. She fired right back trying to judge the line of fire from her left shoulder to the automaton and was rewarded with a resultant thunk as she hit the target dead centre bull- her fourth perfect shot.
“Four!!” shouted the frenzied mob. “Four and two.” agreed ‘Artok’ annoyingly. The scorekeeping was his damned job, not the audience’s!
Blood was beginning to stain her grey tee shirt a deep bright crimson while the redhead ducked away from another plasma bolt and managed to squeeze off two more bolts. Zang! Thunk! Foom! Thunk!
“Those last two hits were dead centre bulls. Six to nil. Miss O’Halloran wins again. Shut down those targets, ‘CC’ dammit! Oh my Kami! Medics to Sub Four target ranges stat! Boss Reds has been hit! This show is over! Medic! Medic Donovan, get your ass over here- now!” cried a distraught ‘Artok’ even as Yuri’s laser torch was slicing through the thin tee shirt Kei was wearing while Kome and Neko gently tugged the severed garment off the tro-con’s shoulders.
Dark blood welled from the wound (severed artery perhaps?) so Jon and Han held down the fiery Amazon while Gene Starwind pressed a white bandage down on the wound- hard! Kei screamed- more from anger than from pain.
“How the Fxxx did hat thing hit medammit all? I heard it from the right yet the bolt came from port, not starboard! OW!! Holy Fxxxing mother of Christ! That really hurts, Gene! (Starwind looked at the still blindfolded Kei and shook his head. He’d seen some strange things in his day but Angels were somethin else entirely!) Take it easy, boyo!” yelled the enraged redhead.
“Oro the Hell did ya expect, Reds? Anybody dumb enough to take on a fully armed and mobile automaton cyber robot has both nacelles runnin’ on empty! And to do it blindfolded! Oro the Fxxx did they teach ya on ‘Workoh’ (Kei’s birth planet which she left when she was small) anyway?” growled Han Solo.
“Don’t you ever mention ‘Workoh’ to me again, pirate! That ain’t my home no more! I’m a ‘Shimougan’ now and don’t you ever forget it!” howled the firebrand Hellcat angrily. “Christ it’s cold in here!” she added.
“Shock. Get a blanket quick.” said Yuri.
“Dammit to Hell! We need a blanket over here stat!” roared Marlene Angel the usually calm, cool and collected navigator.
“Here’s one, Brigadier.” said a voic behind her and Mar yanked it away without looking up and spread it over Kei.
“Much obliged, sir.” said Neko.
“Don’t mention it, ‘Kitty Kat’.” replied Anton Gustav. Yuri looked up from her medical bag where she was charging an auto hypo.
“Thanks. She’s gonna need suturing but I sure as jigoku (Hell) can’t do it down here. Get her ass up to sick bay and keep her covered and warm. ‘CC’, prep the treatment room. I’ll be right there. Stop struggling, Kei! It’s only a little autohypo! Lay still dammit! I can’t get this ‘Axileine 30′ (a painkiller disinfectant antibiotic) into you unless you keep your arm still!” yelped Yuri. Then– Wham! Jon Harlock’s haymaker right cross sent the rambunctious redhead to Never Never Land!
“She’s gonna be madder than a ‘Kryloxian’ hornet when she wakes up, Jonny. I’m sure glad that I didn’t deck that firebrand. I pity your sorry ass though.” drawled Han.
“I wouldna hae hit her at all if the vacuumhead knew how to give an autohypo injection dammit!” growled Harlock.
“We could use that forget everything gas on her fellas. Too bad that ‘Zero’ tomo of Kallen Steadfast’s ain’t here. He could use his ‘geas’ on her to forget the whole thing ever even happened.” said Gene.
“No need for any of that chicanery or tomfoolery lads. Poor Deirdre just fell and hit her head. She must have been groggy from loss of blood and passed out. Isn’t that oro happened, Maureen?” suggested Anton and Yuri nodded ruefully.
“Hey ‘CC’, delete the last twenty minutes of both audio and video feed footages from your mrmory banks onegai.” ordered Chief Gustav. “Remember oro the Fxxx happened when our Miss Angel here found out oro happened to her at the ‘Higurashi Mall’ that time? I don’t want to see a repeat performance, do you?” he added.
“Ka-Mi! Hell no, man!” yelled Don.
“Your orders have been carried out, tomo Willy.” said a sombre ‘CC’ just as Yuri trilled them that she had just finished putting 25 sutures in Kei’s wounded shoulder. She told them she was leaving Mugghi (Yuri’s Mugghi) in sick bay to watch over the boss while she (Yuri) went to her suite to rest until dinnertime. An hour later Yuri was awakened by a chime from her portal.
“Hai (Yeah)? Who is it?” she called.
“It’s just me, Duchess. Han. Ya decent?” drawled Solo.
“Yeah. C’mon in. It’s open.” she replied.
“Hiya kiddo. You OK? (Yuri nodded and sat up in her bunk clutching her ‘Paddington Bear’ over the coverlet) Good. I er came down to find out er that is uh–” stammered the Rebel Alliance leader.
“Her royal highness will be dead to the world for another (Yuri squinted at her wristchromo) ten hours. I gave her enough ‘Axileine 30′ to take down a ‘Triglorian’ bull, Han. I thought about Gene’s ‘memory gas’ suggestion but I decided against it. The airhead was pretty much outta it when Jon belted her oro with the drugs and the pain. See you at dinner, pirate?” she yawned.
“Youbetcha, Duchess. Sweet dreams.” grinned Solo as he left and Yuri curled up with her bear and drifted off to dreamland once again.
“You’re off the hook, Jonny. Yuri shot her up with some kickapoo joy juice crap and she’ll be down for the count until 0400 (4 AM) at least. Duchess said she was so far gone in drugs and pain that she couldn’t have seen who hit her, me old boyo so count your lucky stars, Cap.” chortled Han Solo.
“Thank-ee Solo. You got the 0400 to 0600 (6 AM) guard shift on Level Three. Ye won’t be forgettin’ to look in on our fearless leader now, will ye?” replied Harlock.
“Sure I won’t forget. You’re too good to me, sir.” said Han who was checking over the flight vidlog.
Dinner was the usual merry disaster and Mar was relaxing in a nice warm shower an hour later at 1830 (6:30 PM) when she was suddenly yanked out of her reverie by an urgent trill call.
“Hey Princess! Get up here to the comm deck stat! Meet me in the ready room. We just got a shout from HQ and they want the CO. Hothead’s outta it until 0400 and that leaves you, darlin’!” trilled Gene Starwind.
“So? Go pester Donovan, Gene. She’s the exec.” trilled Mar grumpily.
“No can do, kiddo. The Boss Lady made you interim commander, love. Remember, Brigadier?” trilled Harlock.
Mar sighed. “OK. I’ll be right up, boys.” she trilled from the drying alcove. Still barefoot and the same way Mother Nature had created her Marlene Angel juped aboard her express lift and rocketed up six levels. She tapped her bracelet and was ‘morphed’ into her winter uniform by the time the lift dumped her on Level Nine. The ‘Brigadier’ (Acting or actual? Mar was no longer sure which one she was anymore!) strode into the ready room and greeted the ‘Three Musketeers’- Gene, Jon and Han.
“OK gentlemen. Oro the Hell’s going on? Brief me dammit!” demanded the blonde and she seated herself at Kei’s desk.
“HQ wants to talk to Reds and when we told Charlie Garner he couldn’t he asked for you, Princess. Gene of course suggested the Duchess (Yuri) but he said definitely not. That’s all we know, kid. Sorry.” drawled Solo.
“Vidscreen Four, ma’am. We’ll be on the bridge.” said Gene and headed for the door.
“Belay that. All of you are staying here so sit down. Please.” replied Mar and she activated the vidmonitors.
“Good evening, Mr Garner. I understand that–” began Mar.
“Arigatou (Thank) Kami (God) that I had all of you remain there on ‘XANA’, Angel! There’s no time to lose so just listen to me. Are the ‘Three Musketeers’ there as well? (Marlene nodded) Good. We’ll be needing them. Zorin Oakenshield has got hold of some really heavy firepower from somewhere! You ever hear of ‘Gundams’ before?” said a visibly shaken Chhief Garner. Gene and Jon went white.
“Christ Almighty, Chuck! How many’s he got? Four of the shimatta (damned) bloody things almost annihilated Terra a century or two ago!” shouted Gene Starwind.
END of Ch 52. Ch 53 soon. Getting interesting eh? Wonder how our heroine’s gonna get outta this one? Read on and r/r/s away as always. Have a wunnerful day and sfn/sys/jm/Kami bless you all for your interest and assistance. Hooble-toodle-doo! Toodles tomos watashi-K&K
I dickered over this chapter’s titles. Let me know if I got ‘em right eh?
PS- I really do appreciate all your loyalty and support over the years my tomos watashi all! And you can take that to the bank folks!-K&K
See ya next blog post. Toodles-K&K
This one may be lengthy. Sorry.- K&K