Star Squirrel E:14 Tying Up Lose Ends...

(Last time on Star Squirrel, Speedy, Novina, Sparkle, and Zippy, sharing the power of the Silver Ring, were able to exterminate the threat to the Alyian colony. With Novina's sister safe on the ship, now Speedy and his crew can help with repairs, and injuries the Alyian's suffered, and hopefully gather more information about the region of space that lies ahead...)

Zippy walked with Speedy through the city, with Sparkle and Novina following behind, exchanging angry glares. 


"Man...for such an intelligent species...they sure are taking a beating recently..." Zippy said, looking around.

"I know, but from what Novina has told me, they aren't fighters...so they aren't very skilled with invading forces..." Speedy said, taking some scans.

"Still...you'd think with all their advanced tech...they could come up with some amazing defenses..."

"We do Commander...but they are useless against this race, as they have adapted to our technology..." Novina said, walking at Speedy's side, and flicking her tail at Sparkle. She just glared at her, and walked in between Speedy and Zippy.

"Well maybe we should get going captain, we have a lot of repairs of our own to do...<X3" Sparkle said innocently, while shooting a glare at Novina. 

"We will...but we have to help the Alyians first...they need our help..."

"Well...then can we maybe hang out after?...<X3" she said, snuggling against him, making him blush.

"Sure...sounds good...<X3"

Yay! <X3" she giggled, sending a smirk at Novina. She just silently glared back, trying to contain her anger and frustration. Zippy was watching the whole thing, and shook his head.

"Girls...>XI" he mumbled, while taking out his gun, and shooting a creature that was left over, trying to fly to them.



Speedy then ran over to an Alyian on the ground, and scanned it. "Its lifesigns are weak, but are stable. I think we can save them..." he said, getting on his communicator.

"How captain?..." Novina asked, just watching him.

"You'll see. Explorer, come in. Do you read me?"

"Loud and clear captain! Did you win!?" Lea asked cheerfully. 

"Yes, but there are many casualties. I need you to assemble a team, and beam down here with the CPC."

"You got it captain, see you soon~" she cooed, making him blush.

"Copy that. >///<" Speedy mumbled, quickly shutting it off. Novina glared at his communicator, being made aware of yet another threat. Zippy just grinned at him.


"Well captain, it seems you have another-" Speedy cut him off.

"Just take Sparkle and Novina back to the ship. >X//I" he said, taking more scans.

"What?! No! I have to help...these are my people captain..." Novina pleaded, making him face her. Speedy sighed, and nodded. 

"Fine, find someone to contact for us, and be careful, there might be a few creatures who survived..." Speedy said, scanning again. Novina smiled, and hovered in the air.

"Do not fret, I will be back soon...<X3" she waved, as she flew off. Sparkle just pouted. 

"What about me? I'm the science officer! >XI" Sparkle huffed.

"What about you? We all know you're racist against Alyians...>w>" Zippy grinned.

"What!? I am not! >:I"

"Novina? >:3"

"Hmph...>XI"

"Thought so...>:3"


"Alright you two, stop it. Zippy, you come with me, and Sparkle, you study the creatures, and find out what makes them work." Speedy said, folding his arms.

"Aye captain! >:3" Zippy grinned.

"Fine...>XI" Sparkle pouted, folding her arms again. Speedy and Zippy began to walk away, when Zippy nudged Speedy.


"I think she's jealous...>:3"

"What? Why would you think that?"

"Oh, no reason...>X3" Zippy said, while rolling his eyes. 

"Uh huh...anyways, I need you to run scans, and see if there are any other creatures we've missed." Speedy said, taking scans again.

"Yeah yeah...I know...boring stuff now...>XI" Zippy groaned, taking out his scanner. Novina flew back a bit later, with two other Alyians, both dressed in sophisticated outfits.


"Ahh...so you must be the captain we've heard so much about...'Speedy' is it?..." The one dressed in blue asked, stepping forward.

"That's right. Captain Speedy of the starship Explorer at your service sir." Speedy said, taking a bow. The Alyian smiled.

"Such respect, and power. You know, when the princess first spoke of you, I was skeptical. Now I see now why she has taken such an interest in you. You truly are the hero of legend!"


As he said that, Novina's cheeks lightly glowed blue as she smiled, and looked away shyly. Speedy smiled and shook his hand.

"Thanks, but it wasn't all me, I couldn't have gotten this far without my team..." Speedy said, looking over at Zippy. He just huffed. 

"Oh, NOW you decide to mention me...>XI"


"Do not worry commander Zippy, you will be honored as a hero for helping save us as well!" he said, shaking his hand. Zippy smirked a bit.

"Good...glad to get some recognition around here...>w>" Zippy said, shifting a glare at Speedy. He just rolled his eyes. 

"We'll help you guys heal your wounded, and repair any critical systems. Any tech or Intel you could provide us in return would be greatly appreciated." Speedy said, gesturing over to the team that just beamed down from Explorer, in pillars of light.

"Of course....but...how do you plan to help the wounded?...Their life force has been sucked dry..." the other Alyian leader asked, thinking a bit.

"Not exactly...the creatures only can take so much, and it can be restored..." Zippy said, helping Lea with the CPC.

"What is that?..." The Alyian leader asked, intrigued. 

"That is the Compressed Plasma Coil. CPC for short. It can fire a focused beam of electrons in short bursts. I think it can be used, to 'jumpstart' the ones who were affected by the creatures..." Speedy said, watching them set up. The Alyian leader was amazed.

"That...is actually quite ingenuous! Not bad for a squirrel..." he said with a smile. Speedy just chuckled. 

"Heh, thanks...I try...X3" Speedy said, folding his arms. Novina just proudly smiled at him, while blushing, and standing with the Alyian leaders of the planet.

"Alright captain! We're ready to go here! ;3" Lea said, winking, and giving him a thumb up. 

"Very good. Zippy, set it at half yield, 3/4 bursts." Speedy said, watching them bring over a fallen Alyian.

"Boy, they are heavier than they look...XP" Stryke said, carrying one with Starcy. 


"Alright, here goes...." Zippy said, powering up the coil, and beginning the procedure. Everyone watched intently, as the coil shot a beam of light into the Alyian, in random quick bursts. Slowly, the Alyian's color began to return, and it slowly opened its eyes.

"Hey! It works! You did it! :3" Lea cheered, hugging Speedy. 

"WE did it! >XI" Zippy huffed, shutting off the coil, and pouting. Stryke and Starcy helped the victim up, and walked them over to Speedy and the Alyian leaders. Lea giggled, and patted his head. 

"Of course we did! I just wanted to hug the captain! :3" she giggled, making Speedy laugh and blush.


"Pothaos....how are you feeling?..." The Alyian leader asked, as Stryke and Starcy let go of him, letting him stand on his own.

"I...I feel disoriented...but I am alright..." he answered, with a smile, at Speedy and his team. The Alyian leader just smiled, and bowed.

"Thank you...all of you...you truly are great heroes...especially you captain...Squirrel of the Stars..."

Speedy smiled, and scratched his chin. "Star Squirrel huh?...I like it..."

"Oh yeah! Team Star Squirrel! Galactic heroes! Awesome! >X3" Zippy cheered, shooting his gun in the air. 

"Zippy! Stop that! >XI" Speedy said, forcing his arm down.

"Killjoy...>XI"

"Uh huh...anyways...we will show you guys how to build this...in the mean time, my crew will heal as many as they can..." Speedy said, turning to the Alyian leader again.

"Thank you Captain...we are eternally grateful..." The leader said, with a smile. The other Alyian, Pothaos, had a worried look on his face.

"But...what if they come back?...And Star Squirrel isn't here to save us?..." 

"I'm not sure Pothaos...we will have to study our defenses, and see how we can improve them..." the leader said, thinking a bit. Speedy just took out is communicator. He opened it, and it beeped.


"Captain come on, this is Sparkle." 

"I'm reading you, what's up?"

"I think I found a weakness to these things..."

"Really? What is it?..."

"Extreme heat...Fire...it can't handle it..."

"So, if they use fire based weapons, it should repel them?..."

"I think so...their bodies dry up pretty easily..."

"Good work Sparkle, document your results to a file, then return to this location, and help Zippy Starcy, Lea, and Stryke heal everyone..."

"I can't come with you?..."

"Sorry Sparkle, I have to handle business matters with the Alyian High Counsel. Top secret stuff."

"Aww! XI"
 
"Don't worry, we can talk later, alright?...<X3"

"Fine...X3"

"Good. Speedy out..." he said, closing the communicator. "There you guys go. Build some flame throwers, and you should drive those things away if they ever come back. >X3" Speedy said, with a chuckle.

"OH! I want to help build one! >X3" Zippy yelled, waving his hand.

"No Zip, you guys keep working...>XD"

"Hmph...>XI" Zippy pouted, doing as he was told. The Alyian leader just smiled.


"We are forever in your debt Star Squirrel...come...we have valuable intel and technology you might find useful in your travels..." he said, flying off. 

"Sounds good to me!" Speedy said, following after him on foot. Novina just flew next to Speedy, and smiled at him.

"Thank you captain....for everything...<X3" she said, tearing up a bit.

"Hey...don't worry about it...<X3"

"You could have easily decided to go after Star Dagger and finish what they started...but...you chose to help me get my sister back...and even save our colony...<X3" 

"It was the right thing to do Novina...besides...you've been very loyal and helpful...it was the least I could do...<X3" Speedy said with a smile. She just flew close to him, gave him a peck on the cheek, then flew ahead to meet with the Alyian leaders. Speedy just blushed, and almost tripped and fell on his face.

"Wow....didn't expect that...0///0" he said quietly, as she looked back and winked at him, while giggling. The Alyian leader looked over at her.

"You have affection for the squirrel hmm?..."

"Yes...I do...<X3"

"Well...even though he is not royalty...I do think he'd be a good suitor for you princess..."

"I do too...hopefully he feels the same...<X3" she said quietly, looking back and smiling at him again, as he dashed through the city, running along the sides of buildings to keep up with them.


Over the next couple days, Speedy and the Alyians had exchanged data and technology, along with a lead to a starbase of an ally of theirs, that could have some items that might be useful to them. Zippy and the crew helped heal as many as they could, along with Allen and Cameron, beaming down a new CPC they built for the Alyians to use, to finish helping heal the wounded and drained victims. After all was said and done, ties between Star Squirrel and the Alyians were stronger, and it looked like things were starting to work in their favor...



After everyone was aboard, and repairs were nearly complete, Speedy walked down the hall to sickbay, after freshening up after the long battle. He opened the doors to see Solaria, getting a check-up from Novina. The two smiled at him, and waved.

"Captain! What brings you here? <X3" Novina said cheerfully, walking over to him. 

"I wanted to check on our newest member...<X3" he said, smiling at Solaria.

"I've never been better captain Speedy! I'm back with my sister again...on a powerful, safe starship...<X3" she giggled happily. 

"I'm glad to hear you're making yourself at home...if you don't mind me asking though...why where you there, and not on your homeworld with Novina?..." Speedy asked, unsure if he was getting into a touchy subject. The two sisters looked at each other sadly, then looked back at him.

"Well captain...about a year ago Archaos defected, and started a riot on our world, making everything chaotic. He was trying to take the planet by force from my parents...Solaria is not a fighter...so we wanted her to be safe, and sent her to a secret location...even I didn't know where my parents sent her...for safety reasons..." Novina said, thinking back to the horrible times, prior to Speedy saving her.

"But I wanted to help you Novina...I know I may not be as powerful as you...but I didn't want you fighting Archaos alone..." Solaria said, looking away sadly. Novina just put her hands on her shoulders.

"I know you did Sol....but it was too dangerous...Mom and Dad did what they thought would be best for you...besides...I promised you I'd come for you...and I did...<X3"

"I know...and I'm glad...I really missed you...<X3" Solaria said, hugging her sister. Speedy just watched and smiled.

"Of course...you should really thank the captain...he was the one who saved you from all those creatures...<X3" Novina said, smiling at him.

Solaria just giggled, and tackled Speedy in a flying hug. "Thank you captain! I will do the best I can to help you guys! <X3"

Speedy just laughed and hugged back. "Well, what would you like to do Solaria?...<X3"

She let go, and smiled. "Actually...I like it here! In the medical bay! I love to help people...so I could be your nurse! <X3"

"Sounds good to me! We actually need a nurse, because the other two before you have resigned...XI" Speedy said, dropping his ears a bit. 

"Yay! Thank you captain! I won't let you down! ^w^ " she giggled happily, running over to some machines, and cleaning them while singing. Speedy just watched her while smiling.

"She's a cutie...<X3"

"Yes, she is regarded as that a lot...<X3"

"At least she seems to be happy now...<X3"

"Why wouldn't she be?...She has a new family now...<X3"

"Very true Novina...<X3"

"Hey...are you...busy tonight?...I'd like to...maybe show you a new dance I learned today?...<X3" Novina asked shyly, while blushing. Speedy blushed too, and nodded. 

"I'd love to! >//w//<"

"Great! Meet me at my quarters in an hour! See you then! <X3" she giggled, running off. "Bye Solaria! <X3"

"Bye Novina, bye Speedy! See you soon! ^w^ " Solaria waved, as the two left. Speedy giggled and waved back, as the doors closed behind him. Solaria just gave a content, happy sigh, then continued cleaning and happily singing again. 


A bit later, after Novina finished getting into her belly dance outfit, she began to feel strange. She started to get a painful headache, which was uncommon for Alyians. She then fell to her knees in pain, as she held her head.

"Aaahh...what is going on...<XI" She got her answer, inside her head.

"Hello again...Violet Flower~" a familiar voice said in her head, as he power bracelets, and antenna flashed red.

"Archaos!? What...how are you in my head!?" Novina began to panic, as mind control on an Alyian or between Alyians was unheard of.

"Oh don't tell me you've forgotten our last moments on our world?...I'm not done with you yet...you will be my greatest tool...and your crew's demise~" Archaos said, sitting in a chair aboard his ship, with an evil grin on his face.

"No...NO! Leave me alone!" Novina shrieked, trying to break the mental link.

"Don't fight it...or you soon won't be able to~" he said, fully taking control of her.

"NOOO!!" she screamed in agony, tears rolling down her cheeks...




End of Episode...