INVASION OF THE SPUNG

Radu, Harlan and Commander Goddard ran. Behind them, firing shot after shot, was Warlord Shank. Radu could hear his lizard feet slapping the ground and even the sound of his blaster charging up for another shot. His own thoughts were dominated by his intense fear for the lizard-like race.

The rounded a corner and Radu felt his breathing catch up to him as his heart pounded in his chest. All Andromedans had excellent endurance and it clearly puzzled him that he was breathing so hard. Behind them, Shank fired another shot.

The ceiling made a strange clinking noise and Radu looked up. Rows of spikes were falling towards him and his two companions. As they fell, Radu thought that his young life was about to come to an end. The spikes drew nearer . . .

**********

Radu awoke with a start, sitting up straight in bed. It took him only a moment to realize that the spikes of his dream were just that - a dream. He took a deep, shaky breath and looked around the room.

On either side of the large room were row upon row of bunk beds, each with their own drawn curtain to give privacy to the cadet inside. Radu noticed that his own curtain was open and tried to think back to whether or not he had closed it. Above him, cadet Paul turned in his sleep and muttered something about his family. Radu took a final breath to steady himself and rose out of bed.

It had been almost three weeks since a UPP space ship had found the Christa. They had returned to the Starcademy via a nearby wormhole and were just beginning to settle into their old routines. About a week ago, they had bid a fond farewell to Suzee, who had discovered a way to bring Catalina back using the Starcademy's research and development lab - a class the Andromedan was still failing. Commander Goddard had been reassigned as a teacher for another two years as punishment for 'allowing' the space cases to sneak on the Christa three years before. In light of her excellent work with maintaining the student's work, Ms Davenport had been given a teaching assignment as well, although it was far below her former status as vice principal.

Radu drank some water and looked at himself in the mirror. He had friends now, but the vast majority of the Starcademy still regarded him as foreign. They had drawn straws to see who would share a bunk with him and as he watched them do it, he wished that Bova or Harlan were in his bunkroom.

Radu quietly returned to his bunk and drew the curtain. He looked over at his clocked and saw that in only two hours he would have to rise once more and report to breakfast - the one time all the space cases were together. At that thought, he smiled and fell asleep.

**********

"Radu! Over here!" Catalina's voice rang out over the crowd.

"She doesn't have to yell," Radu thought to himself as he made his way over. "I could have picked up her whisper through this crowd."

Radu slid into a seat next to Rosie and across from Harlan. Catalina sat next to Harlan and Bova next to Rosie. Radu carefully tuned out the rest of the noise to a dull roar so he could fully concentrated on their conversation without hearing the catcall from the other students.

Catalina smiled at him and began her usual long narration about how rotten the food was. Radu watched her speak and thought about how lucky Harlan was to have her for a girlfriend. After living on Yensid for so long, Catalina had adapted their hairstyle instead of the short, circular style she had worn before. Her hair was down to her shoulders and streaked with colours almost like Suzee's had been. She had gotten taller and much thinner and more muscular than before, but was still the same Catalina inside.

"No, Suzee, I will not tell that to him!" Catalina said, suddenly braking off her narration.

"What did she say?" Harlan asked.

Catalina's face grew sadder. "Suzee said that the people two tables back are making fun of Radu by putting halves of circular bread on their ears."

Radu listened without turning and soon heard the group Suzee had mentioned.

"Oh, help me! I'm an Andromedan who can't take care of myself! I need the Spung to look after me! Oh, help!" one sneered.

Radu felt his blood boil. Harlan reached over the table to put a hand on his. Radu closed his eyes for a moment and counted to ten. Once he was his usual calm self again.

"Ignore them," Catalina told him. "They're morons."

"Don't worry about it, Radu," Rosie comforted. "They just need to get to know you."

The bell rang at that point to indicated it was time for their first class. The space cases split up and Radu found himself walking in front of the group that had been teasing him. They continued as they headed to their classes. Radu tried to follow Catalina's advice, but it was difficult when you had such acute hearing. Radu was thankful when they headed down a different corridor than him.

**********

"Attack the team that has the ball and the UPP will surely fall," Elmira said in a trance like state.

Warlord Shank hissed in appreciation.

"For this to pass as I have told, there is one thing you must hold. The race that once was your slave must once again come to your aid," she finished.

Elmira blinked and looked at her father in hatred. Warlord Shank did not say a single word to her, but rose and left the room. When he was gone, Elmira walked over to the audio recorder she had deliberately placed there and listened to the whole telling. Her mouth dropped when she heard the prophecy.

"Radu . . . " she whispered.

**********

Radu and his friends sat in the biosphere. Rosie was feeding squirrels leftovers from lunch while Catalina and Suzee helped Radu with his homework. Harlan was practicing his karate moves and Bova was asleep under a tree.

Harlan stopped to catch his breath and sat down next to Cat.

"I wonder where Thelma and the Christa are now?" he mused.

"Probably off seeking another crew," Radu answered.

"Maybe Thelma found out how to get back to wherever the Christa came from," Rosie suggested.

"Or they were blown out of space the moment we left," Bova added with a yawn.

The group was silent after Bova's casually gloomy remark. The thought of Thelma and the Christa being space dust was too real to be funny. Radu set to work on another problem when a courier came up.

"Radu 386 of Andromeda?" he asked.

Radu nodded. The man gave him a compupad and left. Radu pushed a few buttons to decrypt the message and read.

"386?" Catalina asked.

"Y - yeah," Radu said distractedly. "I was the 386th egg hatched of the cycle and named after an Andromedan who had died in the war."

Radu turned his attention back to the message. After a few more minutes, he lifted his head and the pad slipped out of his limp fingers to the ground. Harlan picked it up and read the message.

"'Radu 386 is hereby ordered by the government of Free Andromeda to return and serve in the Andromedan Army against the Spung.'" Harlan said out loud.

"You've been conscripted?" Catalina exclaimed.

Radu could only nod.

"Hey, are you okay?" Harlan asked.

"Yeah . . . I'm fine," Radu said in a broken voice. "I just never thought they'd want me back again."

"What do you mean?" Rosie asked, leaving the squirrels.

"Well . . . the reason I was chosen to come to the Starcademy was because I was an individual and had ideas. Andromedans are very set in their ways and don't like it when a member of the race has ideas that are different from the groups," Radu explained.

"Attention, attention all students report to the viewing chambers for a special announcement from Admiral Cody," a voice said over the loudspeaker.

"We'd better go," Catalina said, rising slowly.

Radu took the compupad from Harlan and effortlessly squeezed it into a ball.

**********

"The Spung Empire has declared war on the UPP by attacking Andromeda," Admiral Cody announced. "As upcoming Stardogs, the older students have been drafted into the army. It will take all the manpower we've got to stop this war, even with the Andromedans on our side. Please report to your bunk rooms for assignments. That is all."

As the students were preparing to leave, one of the principal's aides tapped Radu on the shoulder and motioned for the Andromedan to follow him. Radu waved good bye to his friends and left.

Principal Ravenshire was an elderly woman with green hair that rose into two mounds on either side of her head. She was seated behind a large desk that made her seem very tiny. Radu was lead in and left standing in front of the principal.

"Radu 386, your planet has no doubt informed you that you are needed?" she asked.

Radu felt himself blush. "Y - Yes, ma'am."

"Good. I have arranged for a transport to take you to Andromeda immediately. Please gather anything you'll need and go to docking port E," Ravenshire ordered.

Radu nodded and turned to leave.

"One other thing," Ravenshire called.

Radu turned back to face her.

"Good luck and come back safely."

**********

Radu walked quickly to his bunk. He knew exactly what he needed and that bag had been packed since he got here. He walked into the room and saw that the curtain to his bed had been closed and on it was painted in large letters:

FIGHT YOUR OWN WAR, ANDROMEDAN!

Radu was taken aback and was almost afraid to open the curtain. He did and jumped back when he saw a doll dressed like a Spung lying on his bed with a blaster pointed at him.

Around Radu, the other students began to laugh. They laughed loud and hard until Radu's head was spinning as he tried to filter it out. He grabbed his bag and tried to get out of the room. Several students blocked the way. Radu's head was throbbing now as he picked up one of the blocking students, lifted him a few centimeters off the ground and moved him out of the way. He ran down the hall, leaving the hateful students behind him.

**********

"There he goes!" Rosie said, pointing out the window to a transport lifting off.

"I can't believe he didn't come and say goodbye to us," Harlan stormed.

"The principal probably didn't give him enough time," Catalina told him. "What was your assignment?"

Harlan held up the compupad. "Army."

"Me, too," Catalina said.

"I'm in research and development," Bova said. "But, I still have to be where the fighting is."

"I was put in the medical regiment," Rosie told them. "And I think my dad will be there, too!"

"That's great, Rosie! Hopefully we won't see you at all," Bova said.

Rosie's cheerful face clouded over.

"Not that we don't want to see you," Bova amended. "It's just that in order to see you, we'll have to get hurt."

Rosie cheered up. She was about to say something when the loudspeaker came on.

"Attention, attention, all students report to their assigned areas."

Rosie gave Bova a big hug goodbye and left the room. Bova stared after her.

"For the first time in my life," he said, "I feel good!"

Harlan and Cat laughed as they followed him out of the room and down to the transport to take them to the barracks.

**********

Harlan sat across from Catalina. After weeks of intense training, they were heading to Andromeda to fight the Spung. The regiment of which Harlan, Catalina, and Bova were part of was lead by Commander Goddard and called StarDog one. The transport landed with a thud.

"Okay, team," Goddard said. "This isn't a training exercise or a holo-game back home. This is real. Remember everything you've been taught and never doubt your instincts. We're right at the front between the Spung and the Andromedans so watch out!"

The door opened and the team slid quietly out into the darkness of the Andromedan night. Goddard lead them through mud and water to behind a thick duraplast wall that would protect them from advancing fire. They were told to sleep and rest for the battle the next day.

**********

The Spung attack came just after sunrise. Harlan and Bova were at the top of the wall, shooting the lizard creatures with blaster and antennae. Bova had brought with him a battery pack that was capable of keeping him charged for weeks. He knew that if that failed, all he would have to do was get hit by an electrical blast and he would be fine.

Catalina was lying on her stomach at the base of the wall with her blaster pointed at the advancing Spung. To her right was an Andromedan encampment and she noticed out of the corner of her eye they worked in rigid formation without pausing to think whether or not the formation would work. A large group of Spung came charging at the wall and Catalina took a deep breath. She screamed, knocking all the Spung back and messing up the inner workings of their blasters. She took them out, one by one with militant ease. A cry made her look up and she saw one of the soldiers from Starcademy fall. Goddard pointed to her and she moved up to take the dead man's place. The fight continued.

The Spung finally retreated to regroup and Harlan sank down to rest. Catalina handed him her water canteen and he drank thirstily. Bova remained on top of the wall as a look out.

"Hey, guys!" he said tapping Harlan on the head.

"What is it?" Harlan demanded.

"I think I see Radu!"

Harlan and Cat returned to their former positions as the Spung attacked the Andromedan outpost to their right. Bova was pointing to an Andromedan who had broken out of the formation and was shooting a Spung who had gotten information about their defenses. The Spung fell and the Andromedan got back into formation.

"That's Radu all right," Harlan laughed.

The Spung continued to attack and Radu battled them fiercely. He was faced on two sides and, as he killed on Spung, the other Spung shot him. He fell to the ground.

"Grozit!" Catalina exclaimed.

"Wait! The Spung is picking Radu up," Harlan said.

The Spung that had shot Radu picked him up and brought him to the Killcruiser that had landed nearby. The space cases looked around the field and saw that other Andromedans were being carried off by the Spung as well.

"I wonder what they're up to," Goddard thought out loud.

**********

Catalina, Harlan and Bova were relieved of duty for a few days after weeks of fighting. Of the thirty people in their regiment, there were only about twenty left. Commander Goddard saw each of the losses as his fault and became withdrawn. It was evident, however, that the three space cases in his company were clearly his favourites.

The Saturnian, Earther, and Uranusian walked down the streets of Andromeda's capital city. They were impressed by the cleanliness of the streets and buildings as well as the lack of pollution. Everywhere they went, they were greeted warmly because of their StarDog cadet uniforms.

"It kinda makes you feel guilty for treating Andromedans so bad, doesn't it Harlan?" Catalina whispered.

"Be quiet, Rainbow Head," Harlan laughed. The nickname that had once been used as an insult had become a term on endearment.

"What's going on over there?" Bova wondered, pointing to a crowd.

The three soldiers rushed over to see. A crowd of Andromedans and a few cadets were watching the Andromedan police struggle with an elusive captive. Harlan tapped a cadet on the shoulder and she turned.

It was a Neptunian. The girl was fairly tall and thin with aquamarine skin, green eyes and dark blue hair. The Neptunians had developed gills after Earth had flooded the planet with the excess water after the polar ice caps had begun to melt. The colonists of Neptune had been literally forced to sink or swim - and most swam.

"Yes?" she asked in a liquid voice.

"What's going on?" Harlan asked, indicating the struggle with a tilt of his head.

"The police are arresting a Spung spy," the Neptunian said.

"Why would any Andromedan want to spy for the Spung?" Catalina asked.

A Mercurian who was standing near them turned to join into the conversation. He was as tall as Harlan, with Rosie's pink skin, bald head and blue eyes.

"He's been brain washed," the Mercurian informed them. "The Spung somehow developed a method for erasing someone's brain and they're capturing Andromedans to use as super soldiers."

"That's ridiculous," the Neptunian snapped. "There isn't a race in this galaxy that has that kind of technology."

Catalina's eyes crew wide at the mention of brain washing. She remembered too clearly her encounter with the Luff and their mind wiping technology.

"Did the Spung wipe out the Luff?" she whispered to Harlan.

"If they did, someone should inform the Andromedan authorities," Harlan replied.

"I'm hungry," Bova complained. "Does anyone want to check out the Andromedan cuisine?"

"Bova, we just ate," Cat stated.

"That was over an hour ago," Bova insisted.

"I'm kind of hungry," the Neptunian girl said. "I'll go with you guys."

"Me too," the Mercurian added.

"Great, let's go," Bova lead the way back down the street.

**********

It turned out that Clito, the Neptunian and Mattar, the Mercurian were in the same company as the space cases. They all reported for duty early the next morning where Catalina and Harlan took Goddard aside.

"We received reports of Andromedans turning against each other this morning," Goddard agreed. "It seems they shoot them with tranquilizers or light electrocution before bringing them to their ship where they're mind wiped."

"We have to warn them!" Harlan exclaimed.

"The Andromedan government knows, but nothing can be done. No one knows how to reverse a mind wipe. Our orders are to kill any threatening Andromedans," Goddard said sadly.

Both Harlan and Catalina were subdued. They returned to their posts with heavy hearts. They had seen Radu be captured and they now knew that they may soon be forced to kill him.

"Why so glum?" Matt asked.

Harlan related the entire meeting with Commander Goddard.

"Bummer," Bova commented.

"Is that all you can say?" Catalina exploded. "Radu may be killed. Remember the times on the Christa? We can't just sit here and let that happen!"

"What can we do?" Clito asked.

"I'll tell you what we can do," Harlan said with a twinkle in his eye.

**********

The sun had already set over Andromeda's war torn landscape. On both sides, soldiers were getting ready for well deserved sleep. Sentinels were placed to watch the other side, food was served, and lights turned out. In this darkness, five shadows crept out of their encampment.

Three smaller shapes followed the two larger ones. One of the leading shapes was glowing and features could be faintly seen. The figure was immediately recognizable as Mercurian.

"We're near the ship," a smaller figure said. "Turn out that light or we'll get shot."

The light was extinguished. The shapes continued up the open ramp and into the slumbering ship.

**********

Inside the Spung Killcruiser, Harlan pushed 'his' team into a dark corridor as two armed guards marched by. He put a finger to his mouth to indicate silence and tip toed back into the hall. They had obtained a map from Goddard's tent before heading out. The Andromedan government had given a basic floor plan of the invading ship to all leaders of the army in case of capture. It had been retrieved from the first Spung war when the Andromedans had been forced to fight against the UPP. Harlan now pulled it out of his pocket. Matt shone a dim light so it could be read.

"All right," Harlan whispered. "According to this, prisoners are kept one level down and three doors in. There should be a ventilation system running just down this corridor that we can crawl through to get down. After that, it's just a matter of finding Radu and getting out."

"You make it sound so simple," Catalina whispered sarcastically.

"Let's go," Clito pushed the two bickering friends down the hall as Matt blew out his light.

In no time, they were in the ventilation pipes, crawling down to the detention centre.

**********

Elmira sat in her room, brushing her hair. She heard a muffled thunk from inside one of the tubes that ran through the ceiling of her room. Curious as always, she stood on a chair and peered through the vent. She saw a leg pass just out of view with a hand following it. As the hand moved, she recognized Catalina's face who stared back.

"Elmira!" she mouthed.

"What are you doing?" Elmira asked quietly.

"Is everything all right, Sirrola?" the guard from outside the door asked.

"Quite," Elmira answered.

"Rescuing the Andromedan prisoners," Cat replied.

"You will be killed!" Elmira protested. "Go back!"

"They have Radu and he's going to be mind wiped."

Elmira was taken aback. She shook her head in frustration and waved for Catalina to continue.

"I'll do what I can," Elmira promised.

"Sirrola?" the guard asked again.

Elmira got down off the chair and tapped her brush against her table every time the intruders above her made a sound. The guard came in, saw that nothing was amiss, and closed the door again.

"Good luck," Elmira whispered.

**********

Harlan stuck his head out of the tube. He was hanging upside down from the ceiling with Bova and Matt holding onto his feet as he checked for guards. Not seeing any, he withdrew his head and stuck his feet down. He dropped to the ground soundlessly and helped the others descend. They all made it without alerting any guards.

"How do we find him?" Bova asked.

They had retreated to the safety of an alcove in the wall. Three guards passed, spoke briefly to each other and continued on their way.

"Wait here," Clito said. "I shall find your friend."

Before anyone could ask how, Clito melted into a pool of liquid and slithered out into the hall. The others watched with astonishment in their eyes. A few minutes later, the puddle reappeared and formed into Clito.

"The Andromedan you are looking for is in cell block 399B, only a few doors down. He is scheduled for a mind wipe in about three minutes," she reported.

"What can we do?" Cat asked.

"Probably nothing," Bova answered.

Just then, five Spung guards walked down the hall. The intruders heard a door open and a prisoner walk out. As the guards returned with the captive, they saw the pale and depressed face of Radu. His friends watched him being brought to another room and the door slamming firmly shut behind them.

"Clito, can you do that puddle thing again and go back to Elmira's room? Tell her Radu is in danger and we need a distraction now," Catalina said.

Clito nodded and Harlan hoisted her back into the tube. In an instant she was gone.

"When we get our distraction, Bova can zap the lock to open it and we'll rush in. Bova, Matt and I will take the guards while Harlan and Clito will get Radu out of there. We'll meet in the tubes or not at all. Agreed?" Cat ordered.

The others nodded. Soon, Elmira came flying down the halls with a few guards trailing behind her. She opened the door to the mind wiping room and stepped inside. Clito appeared beside Harlan and everyone waited for their moment.

Elmira successfully got two of the five guards to go with her. As she passed by the invader's hiding spot, she winked. When Elmira and her guards were out of view, they put Catalina's plan in action.

The door was already open, so Bova saved some charge. Inside were three Spung guards and one Luff scientist who was operating the machine. Radu was strapped down to a table with wires going in and out of his head. He was unconscious.

Catalina screamed and one of the guards fell, deafened by her pitch. She picked up his blaster and shot him. Bova electrocuted another as it shot him with its blaster. The charge from the shot only made the Uranusian stronger. Matt, who disliked using his powers for violence, gave the last guard the hotfoot before melting both his feet into the metal floor.

Harlan attacked the Luff scientists, leaving him senseless on the floor while Clito fiddled with the dials. She seemed frustrated until she suddenly looked to her right, seemed to see something, and pushed the correct buttons. The mind wipe was halted in mid-wipe. Bova, Catalina, and Matt then destroyed the device.

By now, the racket they had made alerted the guards in the area to their presence. They closed and bolted the door, but knew that it would not hold for long.

"We need to get out of here," Matt yelled.

Harlan had unstrapped Radu and was trying to wake him up. The Andromedan cracked open one eye and stared groggily at his saviour.

"Hey, Radu, snap out of it!" Harlan said.

"Harlan?" Radu asked in a slurred voice.

"We need your muscles, buddy," Harlan helped Radu to his feet.

He brought his sleepy Andromedan friend to the wall that lead to the outside of the ship.

"Just bash through the wall and we're all free," Harlan said.

"Free?" Radu repeated.

Radu shook his head to clear a few cobwebs before putting both his fists together for one giant punch. He managed a fist sized hole through the ship to the planet outside. A few more punches and both the wall and the Andromedan were finished.

Matt and Harlan carried Radu to safety as the others shot at the Spung who were chasing them. Once the six soldiers made it to their own lines, the sentries saw the approaching Spung and sounded the alarm. Soon, the entire UPP army was facing two dozen Spung who had been chasing the six intruders.

**********

Inside their tent, Radu was put on Harlan's bed to rest and recover. The others congratulated each other on a job well done. As they were preparing to sleep, Catalina remembered something of that night's experience.

"Clito," she called. "How did you know which buttons to push?"

"It was strange," the Neptunian answered. "I was thinking to myself that I had no idea what to do and this girl with brown hair streaked with colours appeared beside me and told me what to push."

"Suzee?" Harlan said. "You saw Suzee?"

"Where were you four years ago?" Catalina asked, rolling her eyes.

**********

Catalina opened her eyes and yawned. In the near distance, someone was blowing a trumpet to wake the soldiers. She sat up and ran her fingers through her hair, wondering why she was still tired after a good nights sleep. The sight of Harlan on the floor in a sleeping bag reminded her of the previous night's exploits. Cat smiled happily when she thought of all her friends safe and sound. She stood and tip toed over to Harlan's bunk.

"He's gone!" she exclaimed, waking the other members of the tent.

"Who's gone?" Harlan mumbled sleepily.

"Radu!"

"Who's Radu?" Clito asked.

"The Andromedan we saved," Matt reminded her.

"Oh yeah."

Cat frantically put on her boots and was about to leave the tent when Commander Goddard came in. Cat backed up to let him in and sat on her bunk, her eyes never leaving his stern face.

"Uh, good morning, Commander," Harlan said. "Sleep well?"

"You five are in big trouble," Goddard said in a menacing voice. "Not only did you disobey orders to stay in camp, you threatened the safety of yourselves and others."

"But, we got Radu back," Catalina argued.

"And we totaled the mind sucking machine, for all the good that will do," Bova added.

Goddard looked down on all of them and smiled. "Yes, you did save Radu and destroy the mind wiping machine. For that, you have all been invited to the governor's house where she will extend her own personal thank you on behalf of her people."

The five soldiers smiled at gave a yell of joy. Even Goddard let his strict leader persona fade and smiled with them.

"Where is Radu, anyway?" Cat asked.

"After I heard you all sneak back in here and the night sentries were firing on the Spung chasing you, I came in to see if you had succeeded. You were all asleep and didn't seem injured, but Radu was moaning in his sleep. I brought him to the medical facilities. Rosie is taking care of him," Goddard replied.

Cat smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Get cleaned up and dressed in your parade uniforms. We mustn't keep the governor of Andromeda waiting," Goddard said.

"Can we see him?" Harlan asked as the Commander was leaving.

Goddard nodded and Harlan, too, exhaled the breath he had not realized he was holding.

**********

The Andromedan governor gave them each a golden medal proclaiming their status as heroes. The breakfast she served them was the finest in Andromedan cuisine. Unfortunately, the meal was too heavy for the delicate stomachs of her guests and alternate meals were provided. After the dinner, Clito and Bova were taken by scientists eager to find out how the mind wiping machine worked. While they were off answering questions, Harlan, Matt, and Catalina were taken to the medical facility where Radu was being kept.

Rosie's father, Gunter greeted them outside the small building where the injured soldiers were housed. He lead them through various stages of disinfection in order to keep the hospital as clean as possible. They were given plain white robes to wear instead of their uniforms. Rosie met them on the other side.

"Harlan! Cat! Nice to see you guys!" she exclaimed, rushing up to embrace them both.

"Rosie, this is Mattar," Cat introduced.

"Hi," Matt said shyly.

"Hello," Rosie replied, equally abashed.

Gunter cleared his throat and Rosie turned back to her former crewmates. She gestured for them to follow her and they began their walk into the hospital.

They passed row upon row of beds, each containing a different victim of the second Spung war. Most were Andromedan, taken care by Andromedan doctors, but others were human, Saturnian, Neptunian and even Martian. Rosie hurried them by, but each of the newly proclaimed heroes had time to see the damage this war had caused. Limbs had been removed, heads were bandaged, and skin fried off. Harlan shuddered as he remembered how close some of those blaster shots had been.

They stopped in front of a bed that had been curtained off. Rosie brought them in close so she would not have to speak loudly and spoke in an uncharacteristically serious voice.

"He's been partially mind wiped, so he may not recognize you. He does know me, but barely remembers his life on the Christa. Don't speak too loudly because his hearing seems more sensitive than before," Rosie cautioned.

She drew back the curtain and allowed her friends to step inside.

Radu lay on his bed, wearing a white patient's gown. His head was bandaged and interveinous tubes were protruding from his arm. His eyes were closed and he seemed more pale than usual. Rosie went to his left side and touched his arm gently. Harlan, Catalina, and Matt went to his right.

"Radu, you have visitors," she whispered.

Radu turned his head slightly and gave a soft moan as if the act of waking up was too difficult for him. He turned his head toward Rosie's voice and opened his eyes.

"Rosie," he said with a smile on his face.

Rosie pointed to the other side of the bed where the others waited quietly. Radu turned and furrowed his brow as he tried to remember who these people were.

"Hi Radu," Harlan said quietly. "How are you feeling?"

"H . . . Harlan?" Radu asked. Harlan nodded.

"Hey Radu," Cat smiled.

Radu just smiled back at her. Rosie went around to the right side of the bed.

"Do you remember Catalina?" Rosie asked.

Radu stared at her, hoping to get a hint of his past.

"I remember a loud scream, on a ship somewhere far away and a girl who almost looks like you talking to her imaginary friend," he said.

"She's not imaginary, she's invisible. There's a difference," Cat choked out the words as her eyes filled with tears. "And she says get well soon."

"Where's Thelma?" Radu asked suddenly. "Thelma! Thelma, where are you?"

Rosie ushered the others back into the hall and drew the curtain as Radu continued to call for Thelma. They heard her whisper something to her patient before the calls died down and Rosie came out.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "He gets confused sometimes."

"He doesn't remember me," Cat stammered.

"He remembers you, Rainbow Head," Harlan assured her. "He just remembers you before you changed, before Suzee came."

"Does anyone want something to drink?" Rosie asked. "Radu is sleeping now and I don't want to wake him."

"No thanks, Rosie," Harlan said, speaking for the group. "I think we'd better head back to the action."

"We'll visit you again," Cat promised.

"As long as you don't come in on a stretcher," Rosie smiled.

She lead them back to the door they had used before and an Andromedan nurse lead them back outside. As they made their way back to the front, they saw Rosie standing in the window, waving good bye.

**********

The fighting continued for another three weeks without end. Many on both sides fell and the number in Goddard's company fell from twenty to fifteen. Catalina, Harlan, Bova, Clito, and Matt were almost constantly on patrol or sentry duty as the numbers fell. They worked to the point of exhaustion when the brain ceases to think and the body acts solely on instinct. The nights were short and the days long. Finally, reinforcements arrived.

It was a month after visiting Radu and Rosie in the hospital when the infamous five were granted two days of rest. They chose to remain in camp, sleeping most of the time. Catalina and Clito each had a long, well deserved shower while Harlan and Matt occupied their time getting to know one another. Bova was often seen sitting alone, writing letters to an unknown pen pal.

"Has anyone else noticed that the Spung fight a lot harder now?" Harlan asked as the group lounged around their tent.

"Yeah, its almost as if they know they're going to lose," Matt agreed.

"On the bright side, at least we don't have to shoot anymore Andromedans," Catalina commented.

"And the Spung don't seem to be getting any new reinforcements either," Clito added.

"How do we know that? For all we can tell there may be five more Killcruiser orbiting the planet, just waiting for Warlord Shank to ask them to join the party," Bova remarked.

"No need to be so pessimistic," Clito told him.

"Yes there is," Bova said. "I'm Uranusian."

There was a call from the main courtyard of the camp for any mail. Bova hopped to his feet and grabbed a letter he had been writing. He shoved it into an envelope and scribbled a name on it.

"Who are you writing to?" Catalina asked.

"The rations officer," Bova replied. "I'm trying to see how many letters it will take before we get seven meals."

"If you don't want to tell us, you could just say so," Matt said.

"Knowing Bova," Harlan laughed, "he's telling the truth!"

**********

Elmira threw a handful of sparkly dust into the air, making one of her fathers warriors sneeze. She seated herself on a large velvet cushion and fell into a trance, eyes closed. Her head rolled around loosely on her neck, as if someone was screwing it on. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open and she stared absently at Warlord Shank.

"What I say may seem untrue, but victory lies down another avenue. There is but one, a leader grand that can give you the world with the wave of her hand. Control this one, and in time the rest of her race with follow your sign," Elmira said.

Warlord Shank waited for more, but his daughter had already come out of the trance.

"Did the answer please you, my lord?" she asked politely.

"Warlord Shank does not answer the simple questions of females," Shank said. He gestured to his warriors. "Come."

Elmira shook her head to clear out the last remnants of fog before walking to her window. The view outside was one of utter destruction. She sighed and prayed that her friends had gotten Radu out safely.

**********

Catalina crawled on her stomach through the mud of the battlefield. She held in her hands a blaster and in her throat her sonic scream. A few meters to her right she could see Harlan and Clito in her liquid form. To her left was Matt. Her ear piece crackled to life as Bova tried to contact her.

"The target is five meters ahead," Bova informed them from the safety of the camp. "Keep moving."

The four of them, along with three other cadets, were on a mission to destroy a laser cannon the Spung had set up to use against the Andromedan city. As the leader of the group, it was up to Catalina to make sure the group made it in - and out - alive. She signaled for Harlan and Clito to move to the right of the laser while she and Matt took the left. The remaining recruits were to draw the attention of the Spung guards by firing on their barracks. Catalina held up her hand to signal action. The three recruits held their weapons ready and Harlan looked prepared to sprint to the laser. Cat dropped her hand and the firing began.

Under the fire of their own people, Harlan and Clito made it to the right of the laser and were lost from view. Matt and Catalina pressed themselves against their side of the laser and took a moment to catch their breath.

"Look for a small disc that would be near the firing mechanism," Bova told her.

Catalina did as she was told and found the disc that held the firing information. She smashed it into pieces on a nearby rock and put the pieces into her pouch.

Harlan was furiously pulling out wires when a shot ricochet off the laser near his arm. He looked up and saw a Spung warrior staring down at him. Harlan fired his blaster, killing the Spung at point blank range before retreating in a hurry. Clito followed him, still in liquid form.

Cat and Matt finished their part of the job and were retreating as well when Cat felt an unusual pain in her right leg. She fell and tried to rise, but found that her lower body would not listen to her commands. Matt crawled back to her and lifted her over his shoulder. He ran with her on his back to the camp, shooting the enemy with balls of fire from his hands.

Matt rested Catalina against a wall in the camp. He shouted for a medic but got Harlan and Clito instead. Catalina was pale and covered in sweat. She felt her head begin to swim and she struggled to hold onto consciousness until Commander Goddard was beside her. With a shaky hand, she reached into her pouch and pressed the broken disc into Goddard's hand.

"Mission accomplished," she said before fading completely.

**********

Catalina awoke in a hospital bed wearing a gown similar to the one she had seen Radu wear months before. She vaguely wondered if it was the same hospital, but the thought passed almost as soon as it had occurred. An Andromedan nurse came by, took her temperature, and wrote a few notes on a clipboard at the end of her bed.

"Can you move?" the nurse asked in broken English.

"I can move my left leg, but not my right," Catalina answered.

The nurse nodded. "I will get you a chair so you can move around. You have been in bed for too long."

Before Cat could reply or even say thank you, the nurse was gone. Catalina settled down in her bed to wait.

**********

A week after she had arrived, Catalina had found that she could manage in her wheelchair very well. There were a few things that she had problems with, such as the step that lead from the hospital to the garden in the back. She usually had to call for a nurse to help her up or down the step. It became a minor annoyance.

In the entire time she had been there, she had not seen Rosie or Radu. She was sure it was the same hospital because she recognized some of the features from her visit before. She often thought about where Rosie could have gone as she sat in the garden. After Rosie, her thoughts strayed to Harlan who was still fighting.

The bell that signaled a meal rang and Catalina snapped out of her reverie. She turned and wheeled back to the hospital. Catalina gave a soft grunt of frustration as the front wheels hit the step and was about to call for a nurse when she felt herself being lifted onto the step. When she was down, she turned to thank her benefactor. Her surprised look must have scared him, because he suddenly became nervous and lowered his gaze to his feet.

"You . . . uh, looked like you needed help," he stammered.

"I did," Catalina said, recovering her voice. "Thank you."

"M - my name's . . . Radu," the Andromedan said.

"I'm Catalina," she replied. "Do you want to walk with me to lunch?"

Radu's eyes brightened and he smiled. He took a hold of the handlebars behind Catalina's chair and pushed her to the lunch room.

**********

Days faded into weeks and Catalina's injury did not change. She spent her time with Radu, who seemed to have no other friends in the hospital besides her. She was careful not to mention anything about his past in case it would have a negative effect on whatever treatment he was receiving. She had seen Rosie a few times, but the Mercurian was usually too busy to do anything by wave as her friend passed.

"Catalina," Radu asked one day as they continued their month long game of Ferna Hernan Three-Level Spitz, "why are you here?"

"I was shot in the back by Spung and . . . " Cat began.

"No," Radu clarified, "why are you in this war? You're not Andromedan and you haven't had any Andromedan visitors here. I can't see how you're involved."

Catalina played with one of the game pieces as she thought about her answer.

"What do you remember of your past?" she asked quietly.

"Less every day," Radu admitted. "I remember passing faces, emotions, and sounds more than events."

"What kind of faces?"

"I can see Rosie, but she seems younger and was wearing a regulator helmet. I feel happy when I think of her then."

"Who else?"

"A guy, an Earther, with dark hair and skin. I have mixed emotions about him; sometimes scared, other times content. He . . . he seems angry at me. I don't know why."

"Anyone else?"

"A girl, who looks kind of like you, only with short hair that's coloured like a rainbow in circles. I get a feeling of tolerance from her, but also acceptance and maybe even friendship. Whenever her face enters my mind, I hear a piercing sonic scream," Radu said.

"Do you think about her a lot?" Cat asked.

"More than the others," Radu admitted. "Why are you asking me all these questions?"

Catalina opened her mouth to answer when Rosie came running down the hall towards them.

"The Spung are attacking!" she exclaimed. "Pass the word that anyone fit enough must fight."

She continued past them, toward the main entrance to the hospital. Catalina and Radu exchanged a glance and followed her to help.

**********

The battle was well underway when they arrived. Radu was a formidable opponent, using his strength and endurance to literally throw the Spung away from the hospital. Those few who survived the toss quickly ran off. Catalina stayed back, searching in vain for a way she could be useful. Her good leg hurt and the other remained numb.

Rosie was guarding the doors to the inside with an intense wall of heat. Her skin was red and glowing with the heat of a super nova. Catalina was sure to stay away to keep her chair from melting. The Spung who tried to approach her were burned or reduced to ash.

Cat surveyed the scene and saw Radu in trouble with five Spung warriors. Despite his Andromedan endurance, he was tiring due to his injury.

"Radu!" she yelled. "Cover your ears!"

Without knowing why, the Andromedan did as he was told and Catalina let out a powerful sonic scream. The Spung hissed in pain and either fell writhing on the ground or fled. When Catalina stopped, the threat had gone. Radu looked at her in horror.

"You!" he stammered. "You . . . you're the girl from my memories!"

Before Catalina could explain herself, Radu ran past her and into the hospital.

**********

Harlan walked around his new campsite. Goddard's team had been broken up and taken as reinforcements for other groups along the front. Harlan and Matt had been sent to an Andromedan outpost as far away from the battles as they could get. Clito had been taken to espionage headquarters after the Andromedan's heard about her liquidation ability and Bova had gone to study as an apprentice scientist. Goddard had been honorably discharged and sent back to Starcademy.

Harlan sighed. His new home-away-from-home was in a lush green forest setting. The camp was made around a very small lake and, from the top of one of the walls, he could just make out the tall buildings of the Andromedan capital city. He wondered how Catalina was doing at the hospital. As an afterthought, he wondered if Radu had regained any memories.

"Hey Harlan," Matt called from the water's edge.

Harlan walked over to join his friend. "Are you as bored as me?" he asked.

"Probably," Matt replied. "Check this out,"

Matt put one finger into the lake and watched the water boil. Before the whole lake began to bubble, he withdrew his finger.

"Exciting," Harlan said, his voice void of emotion.

"At least we're not getting shot at," Matt said, trying to be optimistic.

Harlan sighed, wondering if this was better.

**********

"You just scared him, that's all," Rosie said reassuringly.

Catalina drummed her fingers on the table. She had not touched her meal and Radu was no where to be found. Ever since she had used her sonic scream to get rid of the Spung, he had avoided her.

"Will he ever remember, Rosie?" Cat asked.

"I don't know," Rosie admitted. "Sometimes he seems to be making progress. Other times he can't remember his own name."

"If only we hadn't destroyed that machine," Catalina sighed. "Maybe we could have reversed the process."

Cat sat straight up, her mind repeating what she had just said.

"Cat?" Rosie asked.

"I have a great idea," Catalina said. "Rosie, can you get me some paper? I need to write a letter."

**********

"What? Has she gone insane?" Harlan cried at the sheet of paper in front of him.

"What is it?" Matt asked, coming over for a look.

"It's Catalina," Harlan said. "I think the hospital forgot about her leg and operated on her brain. She's asking me to give this message to Elmira."

"The Spung?" Matt repeated. "You're kidding."

Harlan handed over the paper, which Matt read.

Harlan -

Radu is still sick and getting worse. He found out I was someone from his past and won't speak to me anymore. The only way I can think of restoring his memories completely involves Elmira. Please, bring her to the hospital. Radu is depending on you, and so am I.

- Catalina

"So, how are we going to get Elmira?" Matt asked, returning the letter.

"What do you mean?" Harlan told him.

"Look," Matt said. "This Radu fellow must be pretty important to you guys if you were willing to risk your lives to rescue him from the Spung. There has to be something we can do to save him again."

"You're right," Harlan said, shoving the letter in his pocket, "but I'm going alone."

"No, you're not," Matt objected. "We're friends and we're in this together."

"I can't ask you to come," Harlan told him. "I'm going to have to escape this camp, head back to the front, infiltrate the enemy base and capture the Spung princess. I could get court marshaled for this."

"Fine, don't ask," Matt said. "I'm still going."

"You can't!" Harlan insisted for a final time. "You just can't. If you're really the friend you say you are, you'll respect that."

Harlan turned on his heel and headed back to his tent. Mattar watched him go without a word.

**********

As the night fell, Harlan stepped into the darkness. Matt had said good bye to him at dinner and had stayed in his tent. As Harlan scaled the wall, he felt a bulge in his pocket. Once in the safety of the forest, he took the device from his pocket and read the note that was attached.

"Best of luck, Matt," it read.

Harlan smiled and turned the device around in his hand. It was spherical, black, small and fit easily into his palm. On the top, it had a red button with another message attached to it.

"Push this button when you're about to enter the ship. It's a portable cloaking device that can hide you from inferred, scanners, targeting equipment and even from sight. I'll be waiting for you at the hospital in two days. Signed, Matt."

Harlan whispered a thank you to his Mercurian friend and slipped the cloaking device into his pocket. He checked his map and sprinted away from the camp, toward the Spung Killcruiser.

**********

Rosie made her rounds. The patients she treated all claimed she was the best doctor there - with her soothing touch and excellent bedside manner. Rosie remembered back to a time when one of her teachers had told her the same thing. Those happy times seemed like a lifetime ago.

She pushed back the curtain that gave Radu some privacy and saw the Andromedan sitting on his bed, reading a compupad. A brief sense of sadness and failure swept over Rosie as she realized for the hundredth time that all her work and effort had not saved her friend. She smiled and went over to where Radu sat.

"Hi, Radu," she said cheerfully.

"Hi, Rosie," Radu mumbled, his eyes still on the compupad.

"What are you reading?" Rosie asked.

"Something Catalina gave me a while ago that I didn't start until now."

"What is it?"

"She said it was a ship's log, from an alien vessel she was on. Before I - I saw her as the girl from my memories."

Rosie didn't reply. She remembered the day Suzee had downloaded all the Christa's logs since their unexpected encounter with the white circle. It was when Radu had informed them that the Starcademy was on his scanner. Suzee had said that Catalina would want to remember all the adventures that had happened, and left the compupad as a present when she returned to her own dimension.

"Rosie," Radu interrupted. "You were on this ship too, right?"

Rosie nodded.

"A - And someone called - " Radu checked the compupad for the correct name "Harlan Band."

"Yes," Rosie agreed.

"And I - I was there, too?"

"Yes, you were there too," Rosie told him. "We spent three years on the Christa. It was supposed to take us over seven years to return home, but we were found by a UPP vessel near the opening of a wormhole that we had not discovered."

"So, Catalina and I . . . "

"Were good friends on the Christa, and even when we returned back to Starcademy. Our experiences with the Christa made us inseparable friends."

Radu put down the compupad and stared at his bed. Rosie watched him for a while.

"So many things I've forgotten," Radu whispered.

"Not forgotten," Rosie corrected. "They were stolen from you, but I bet there's someone you can talk to who will help you remember."

Radu looked up at Rosie and smiled. He got up off the bed and hurried out to the garden. Catalina was sitting in her wheelchair near a stone bench, apparently talking to herself.

"I don't know what to do, Suzee," Catalina was saying, her cheeks stained with tears. "I didn't want to hurt him, but I had to!"

"You're talking to Suzee, right?" Radu said, coming up behind her. "Your imaginary - I mean, invisible friend."