Episode 29: You’re Mine

Ash Lander’s thoughts were filled with memories of the space girl.

While Krate Azimuth’s face appeared in magazines and newspapers, and on countless television shows, Ash Lander became more and more of an enigma. The majority of questions posed to Krate during interviews had, of course, to do with their adventures in space, but a close second had to be questions about Ash Lander. Krate, however, had not seen Ash since his media tour began, and they had spoken infrequently on the phone. Joining him often by satellite feed or in person, was Dock Galaxy. While Krate spoke with great enthusiasm and emotion, Dock’s words were carefully chosen and were designed to present Nomicon in a positive light. He never spoke of Wormhole, the evil specter that haunted the minds of all progressive people on Earth.

MEANWHILE…

Ash Lander’s thoughts were filled with memories of the space girl and visions of Flash Meridian, lost in space. He still blamed himself for their failure to save Flash, and he still could not come to terms with the space girl they had encountered on J-IV… a subject that was kept from the masses. Ash wondered whether the whole thing had been a hallucination since they had no hard evidence that she existed. The human mind is capable of over-riding the truth with a more palatable fiction. At any rate, his own doubts and feelings of inadequacy kept him in seclusion, accompanied only by close relations and friends.

MEANWHILE…

P. J. Raygun and Nebula X left the asteroid field and entered the vast expanse of empty space, Earthbound. P. J. pictured Earthlings as mindless automatons, seeking convenience over all else. Earth, while not among the larger planets in the solar system, was, in many ways, the richest. Raygun wrung his hands and snickered as he anticipated the ease with which he would relieve them of their wealth. Fixing his Universal Positioning Satellite on Earth, he could see it as a tiny speck on his screen. You’re mine! he glowered, tapping his finger impatiently on the control panel housing.

MEANWHILE…

Crystal Weightless found Celeste in the library, glanced around the room for possible eavesdroppers and approached her. Celeste… she began apprehensively, afraid that Celeste would not be willing to cooperate.

Hey Crystal! Celeste acknowledged warmly, having always admired Crystal’s free spirit.

Do you have a minute? Crystal asked.

Sure, what’s up? Celeste asked, shutting down the terminal she had been viewing. The girls left the library and as they walked through the school’s corridors, Crystal explained all about the cargo pods, the Nebula X and P. J. Raygun to Celeste, who listened, wide eyed to the account of Crystal’s escapades.