Time Slips Away

Arcadia wasn't having much fun aboard the Noah. The bimbos didn't make for intelligent conversation, President Priest was paying most of his attention to the bimbos, Bunny was frustrated at Priest AND the bimbos, and Prince... well, Prince was just Prince, when he was around!

"I take it you're not terribly happy with your decision?" he asked Arcadia at one point.

"It beats getting blown up along with Earth!" Arcadia replied, scoffing.

Prince just smiled. "Yes, well, seeing that I've now survived the destruction of TWO planetary systems... it's not so much of a shock anymore," he said thinly.

"What do you mean, two?" Arcadia asked, puzzled. "What other planet got destroyed, other than Pluto, which for some reason seems to be missing?"

"You really don't remember, don't you?" Prince remarked whimsically. "Not that you should, of course. No one ever does."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Arcadia demanded indignantly. "Is this another one of your tail-spins?"

"It really is funny," Prince laughed. "You're one of the most unique souls I've ever come across, and yet you don't remember a single thing about your true past!"

Arcadia's eyes narrowed. "Well then, O Wise and Scheming One," she stated sarcastically. "Why don't you share your precious little secrets with me, and enlighten this poor soul!" She huffed, laughing to herself in amusement.

Prince gazed at her for a moment, as if thinking. "Very well," he said finally. "This could be really quite interesting. In fact, it could work to my advantage, ultimately."

"How so?" Arcadia inquired.

"Well, my dear, I do indeed have the power to restore your memory, from your previous life, and the afterlife you experienced on Fire and Water," Prince explained. "It simply hasn't been done before, but there's always a first time, now, isn't there?"

Arcadia looked at him, curious, but annoyed.

"And," he continued, "as I said, it could work to my advantage. You see, you're an unanticipated factor, my dear. And I predict that having you around is going to be costly for me. Possibly put a kink in my plans. And, of course, I can't have that."

"Oh, no, of course not!" Arcadia said, in mock sincerity.

"So, here's what I propose," Prince continued. "You will have your memory restored, and your life-force restored to your former body, the form that never knew an afterlife, a pure form, which can receive your memory, and your... soul, if you wish to call it that."

Arcadia was confused. "You lost me at Fire and Water," she said, trying to make sense of it all.

"It will be made quite clear, in time," Prince said. "And I will have one less problem to deal with."

"Well, whatever makes you happy," Arcadia sneered.

"Are you ready then?" Prince asked.

"Ready for what?" Arcadia returned.

"For your journey," he explained. "It might take some time. Are you ready?"

"I thought we were already on a journey," Arcadia stated.

"Oh, not the kind you'll be undertaking," Prince said. "So, do we have a deal?"

"And I'll get all this supposedly lost memory back?" Arcadia asked. She was curious. There had been too many weird things in recent days, her encounters with Stan and Xev, things they had said, about knowing her in a past life.

"That is a guarantee," Prince replied.

"Well, I suppose I am then," Arcadia said. "What do I have to do?"

"Absolutely nothing," Prince responded, smiling. "All you have to do is simply close your eyes... and sleep."

He waved his hand across Arcadia's face. Her eyes closed, as she slumped to the deck. Prince stood over her limp body, and taking his hand, putting it to his mouth, blew with his lips, as if blowing a kiss.

Arcadia's body began to shimmer, then fade from sight. A glowing form began to take shape, blueish in color, similar to the one that had made its way to Earth from Water long before. It rose from the deck, then began to float away, through the hull of the Noah, and into the darkness of space.

Prince watched it leave, laughing to himself.

***

Arcadia, or whatever she was, floated. She had no consciousness of time, or anything else really. She drifted, life energy, alone.

The little bug-like ship passed near. Arcadia could somehow feel the presence of a void, a vacuum which needed to be filled. Like the manner in which water flows downhill, she was drawn to this source.

And then, she was inside the vessel, and then...

***

790 had finally allowed Xev to remove him from his dearly-departed beloved Amazon's bed on board the Little Lexx. On one condition: that he be allowed to keep vigil next to her lifeless, frozen body inside the cryopod.

"All eternity by my Goddess, All eternity by my beautiful, perfect, Amazon Goddess I remain..."

The Robot Head could barely continue the verse. He broke out into sobs.

"Are you going to mourn her forever?" Stan asked, remembering the way 790 had obsessed over the deaths of Zev and Kai, when he had been enamored with them, at other times.

"Get lost, Pus Bucket!" 790 growled, then continued his lament.

"Look," Stan said, "Arcadia's gone! Yes, we all miss her, but she's gone and she's not coming back! The first opportunity we have, we're going to bury her on some planet somewhere."

"Bury yourself!" 790 shot back. "Several thousand meters under, preferably!"

Stan scoffed, and was about to walk out, leaving the Robot Head to wallow in private, when something caught his attention.

It wasn't at all likely, but for a moment, it looked like Arcadia's body had moved slightly!

Stan did a double-take, just to make certain. There it was again, a twitch!

"What the...?" he said.

790 saw it too. He gasped. "What...? She's... alive? Don't just stand there, Tweedle, get her out of there!"

Stan went to the control panel, and started the sequence. It didn't make any sense! How could she be alive? Prince's blade had run straight through her! She couldn't have survived. Was there something about the cryopod that had revived her?

He hit the switch, and the pod slowly opened. Stan ran over.

"Xev! XEV!" he yelled, hoping she would hear him.

"Little Lexx," Stan ordered, "tell Xev that Stan says to come to the cryo-chamber, NOW!"

"As you command, captain," Little Lexx replied.

Stan lifted the lid to the pod some. Arcadia wasn't moving. He reached over and touched her arm.

Suddenly, she twitched again, then doubled over slightly, coughing, and gagging. Her eyes slowly opened. She was alive!

"Arcadia?" Stan cried. "I can't believe it!"

Xev rushed in at that moment. "Stan, what's the..." She saw Arcadia.

"Arcadia!" she screamed, running to her and Stan's side. Together they helped her out of the pod, her fur bustenhalt and loin cloth damp, and cold. She was shivering, but alive!

"Stan? Xev?" Arcadia said, weakly, spitting out some water and cryo-ooze.

790 was ecstatic. "Oh, Joy times Amazon infinite squared! My Potion of Ecstacy is alive! Hold me, Arcadia! Take me in your beautiful arms and cradle me between your round, voluptuous..."

Stan gave him a quick kick, rolling the Head off to the side. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" 790 yelled.

Arcadia straightened up, looking around. She was on the Little Lexx, in the cryopod that she had constructed when drifting in the Valkyrie... wait a second, how did she know that? Her head was swimming with memories. Her youth, her missions as an Ostral-B heretic, Tristan, the Azure-Queen, ancient Earth, the Glade, the battles, her departure, being rescued by Stan and Xev, Prince, her death... everything! And then...

There was more. She remembered another life. After the explosion on the Bio-Scholar's ship... how was this possible? Two lifetimes? The memories of... a clone? How could this be? She remembered the afterlife on Fire and Water, her life on Earth, growing up in Texas, the Air Force, that fateful flight 1313, and all the twisted things that followed. And then, the Noah, and the Earth's destruction, and... falling asleep, and waking up... here! Her floating essence released by Prince, once again joining her body... the body of herself, from other life, dead, and then now brought back again.

It was almost too much to handle!

Arcadia looked at Stan and Xev. She smiled, laughing, mainly at herself, and the crazy irony of it all.

"It's really good to see you guys again!" she exclaimed, reaching out and hugging them both.

***

"Wow! Arcadia, you really ARE alive!"

Bunny ran to the newly awaken Amazon-Heretic as she walked on to the bridge with Stan and Xev, holding 790.

"Yes, alive, and oh, so delicious!" 790 crooned.

Bunny threw her arms around Arcadia, hugging her tight. "We've really missed you!" she said. "Things just haven't been the same without you!"

"Well, I missed being here, too," Arcadia replied, taking a stroll on the bridge of Little Lexx.

"Little Lexx has grown some, hasn't he?" she asked.

"Yeah, he's getting to be a big bug," Stan stated. "But not too big as to forget who your captain is, RIGHT?" directing the last part of his sentence loudly towards the viewscreen.

"You are my captain, Stanley," Little Lexx answered, monotoned as usual.

"Well, we WERE going to look for a suitable planet to bury you," Xev said, looking at Arcadia, smiling. "But, I guess now, we can just look for a planet for the four of us to call home!"

"Four, plus one Robot Head who wants to make his home the inside of a loin cloth!" 790 chimed in.

"So, how about it, Stan?" Arcadia asked. "Does our search for residence in the Dark Zone continue?"

"You bet!" Stan exclaimed, with a new surge of optimism, hopping up to his captain's seat.

"Little Lexx," he called out. "Let's find ourselves a new home!"

"As you command, captain."

***

Arcadia was lounging in her quarters, on her bed. She had removed her damp, cryo-stained furs, and had them sprawled out, trying to dry them out. She was lying down, her naked body wrapped in a blanket. She was semi-dozing, thinking, pondering through memories. 790 sat on one corner of the bed, switched off, for the moment.

Xev walked in, quietly. She was about to make her entrance known, when she saw Arcadia on the bed, her eyes closed. Xev's movements became hushed, not wanting to disturb her. She walked slowly to the bed-side.

"Arcadia," she said, gently, placing a hand on her bare shoulder.

Arcadia's eyes opened suddenly, a bit startled. She jerked, alert.

"Oh, sorry!" Xev whispered. "It's okay, it's just me!"

"Oh, Xev!" Arcadia replied, more relaxed. "I must have dozed off."

"It's okay," Xev replied, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, next to Arcadia.

"What's up?" Arcadia asked, straightening herself up some, being mindful of the Robot Head at her feet.

"Oh, nothing," Xev explained. "I was just passing by, wanted to see what you were up to. I can leave, and let you rest some more." She started to get up.

"No, no, it's all right," Arcadia said, taking Xev's arm and gently escorting her back down. "I'm glad you stopped by. I really missed you."

"Yeah, me too," Xev said, smiling. She inched a bit closer on the bed. "I've been thinking a lot about our times together on Earth, before, you know... and then, finding you, well, I guess, your clone... and then having you on board, and all the fun we had, you teaching me how to sword-fight, and... other stuff..."

"I know," Arcadia continued. "I wish I still had Starburst. I would pick up where I left off, and show you a few more tricks. You were the best student I ever had... well, my only student really!"

Xev moved in a bit closer, touching Arcadia on her upper arm, and running her fingers down her elbow, towards her wrist. "You were the best teacher I've had," she said softly. "And I mean in other things besides sword-fighting."

Arcadia felt shivers running down her spine at Xev's touch. Shivers of anxiety, but also of pleasure.

She reached out to return Xev's touch, caressing her long, auburn hair, and then her cheek.

"I miss those other things as well," she whispered.

Xev moved in closer, as Arcadia shifted her body upwards, her face tilting up. Their arms closed around each other, as their lips touched, and they kissed.

Xev suddenly pulled away. Arcadia backed off. "I'm sorry!" she said. "I didn't mean..."

Xev put her fingers to Arcadia's lips, quieting her. "Ssshhhhh..." she said, softly.

She stood up, and began to remove her Cluster Lizard skin outfit. Arcadia watched, breathless, as Xev's beautiful body was revealed, bit by bit. Her breasts, her hips... every gorgeous inch!

Undressed, Xev lifted the blanket, revealing Arcadia's lovely naked form beneath. She was sweating, with anticipation and desire. Xev ran her hands along Arcadia's side, her tight stomach, and down her leg. Arcadia moaned softly, her muscles clenching with excitement.

With Arcadia helping her, pulling her in, Xev climbed into the bed, her flesh touching Arcadia's, naked, side by side. Arcadia could feel her warmth, her softness. The way she felt, smelled, the taste of her lips... intoxicating!

Within moments, their hands were all over each other, probing, feeling, caressing, under the blanket. Their lips pressed against each others, kissing passionately. Xev's lips soon left Arcadia's, as she began to kiss her lower, on her neck, her breasts, her navel, and finally... she could feel Xev's breath against her dark, thick,
tingling muff.

Arcadia cried softly, her body on fire. She had never, NEVER felt so good in her life! Xev's tongue circled down below, touching, licking, tasting...

***

She jolted upright, her eyes now wide open, panting, in cold sweats...

Arcadia awoke from her dream. She was still on her bed, blanket over her, 790 at her feet.

"Are your luscious linens dry yet, my Amazon Sex Goddess?" the Robot Head suddenly asked, switching on. "Or are you still... wet?" His virtual tongue gave a sensual lick.

Arcadia sighed, still trembling slightly. Her furs were dry, sure enough, but...

She reached down beneath the blanket... and discovered something quite wet!

***

Stan, Xev, Bunny, and Arcadia were all standing on the bridge, looking at the planet on Little Lexx's viewscreen.

"It doesn't look like much," Bunny said, kind of pessimistic.

"Well, looks can be deceiving," Xev commented.

"Yeah, like the last planet we tried?" Stan scoffed. "You three just about found the OTHER side of paradise, while I was forced to deal with Prince up here!"

"We'll just be more careful to check things out thoroughly this time, Stan," Arcadia said, reassuring.

"Just be sure to RE-assure me BEFORE we land ourselves in danger, okay?" Stan remarked.

***

Arcadia, Xev, and Bunny flew down in a moth. Stan wouldn't budge from the bridge until he heard something positive from the ladies! 790 was left behind.

"Don't leave me with the decaying carbon sack!" the Robot Head whined, as Arcadia placed him next to Stan's chair.

"I'm not taking you down with me," Arcadia insisted. "Not this time."

"WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" 790 broke down in virtual tears, bawling.

"Keep Stan company while I'm gone," Arcadia said, walking off towards the moth, ignoring the outburst.

"I'd rather have the Little Lexx reverse the polarity on its main drive and fry my circuits!" 790 cried.

"That can always be arranged," Stan replied, smirking.

"Go blow a eunuch!" 790 shouted.

Stan stuck out his tongue, grunting at the Robot Head.

***

The trio flew over a large continent on the planet below. Xev kept a close eye on the surface.

"It looks like there are cities down there!" she exclaimed, surprised.

"Signs of technology, civilization," Arcadia nodded. "That's a good thing, perhaps."

"I don't know," Bunny said, skeptically. "I just hope whoever's down there is friendly!"

Arcadia landed the moth on the outskirts of a large suburban tract, which bordered an even larger metropolis. There wasn't too much activity around them.

"Not attracting a lot of attention, I see," Arcadia observed. "Maybe this is going to work out after all! I like the houses." She pointed towards the nice, uniform dwellings with clean, grassy yards and white picket fences.

"This reminds me a lot of Prime Ridge!" Xev commented, as they walked towards a development.

There were some school-age boys riding bicycles down one of the streets. They stopped short, brakes screeching, as they saw the three exotic women.

"Wowser!" one of the boys yelled. "Hey, Jeff, Dennis, look at that!"

The other two boys' jaws dropped. Arcadia approached them smiling.

"Hello, boys," she said, cheerfully. "I was wondering if you could tell me where we could find a grown-up around here?"

The boy just about lost hold of his bike. "Uhh, w-w-well," he stuttered. "My Mom's home," he said, hesitantly. "You c-c-could talk to her, I guess."

"Can you show me where your Mom lives?" Arcadia asked again, pleasantly.

The boy pointed to a house down the block, his eyes never leaving Arcadia's. She, Xev, and Bunny started walking.

"Thank You!" Bunny said, calling back at them.

The three boys still stared, petrified.

A milk truck came around the corner, passing the three women as they walked. The milkman, dressed in white, with a hat on his head, had a similar expression as the boys, when he saw the lovely pedestrians.

Arcadia noticed the cars in the driveways as they passed along the sidewalk. Studebakers, Edsels, old Chevy's and Pontiac's. And all of them 1950's models it seemed. Classic, to be sure, but weird!

They approached the house that the boy had pointed out. Arcadia rang the door bell. A woman in an attractive, but conservative, dress answered, her hair done up, with a fair amount of make-up on.

"Yes?" she said, pleasantly, as her expression changed. "Oh!" she said, startled. "I'm sorry, but..." her voice trailed off as she looked at the three women and their attire.

"Excuse us, ma'am," Arcadia said, politely. "We're strangers here. My friends and I just arrived on your planet, and we need to find out where we are exactly, and how we might get acquainted with your society here."

The woman looked quite confused, but remained very cordial. "Well," she said, laughing a bit to cover her surprise and uncertainty. "You're in Springfield. This is Elm Street, and if you're new neighbors, well, of course, I'd love to get acquainted with you... three." She opened the door some more. "Why don't you come inside? I was making lunch for my son and his friends. Would you like to join us?"

Arcadia, Xev, and Bunny stepped inside, not quite sure themselves. The living room was nice and clean, well-furnished. There was an old-style, wood-frame, vacuum-tube TV set in the corner.

"Come right in and have a seat," the woman said, putting her apron back on, and walking to the kitchen. "Lunch will be ready in a few minutes." She walked thru the swinging door, and disappeared.

"Where are we?" Xev whispered, looking around tentatively.

"This is creepy!" Bunny added.

"Well," Arcadia sighed, trying not to make the conclusion, but having little choice. "If I didn't know any better, I would say we're on the set of an old '50's sitcom!"

The femme trio were finishing lunch when there came a sound from the living room of the house on Elm Street. The front door was opening.

"Hi, honey, I'm home!" a male voice called out.

"Oh, Alex, you're home early!" the woman replied, running out to greet her husband. They exchanged a quick kiss.

"You're home early," she said, cheerfully.

"Yes, honey," Alex replied. "I took the afternoon off. But I'm probably going to have to make some house calls later on this evening."

"Oh, that's wonderful, darling!" the woman exclaimed.

The man came into the kitchen.

"Well, well!" he exclaimed, seeing the three guests. "Donna, you didn't mention we had... company..." He gave the women a peculiar look.

"Oh, honey, this is Arcadia... Xev... and... Bunny?" Donna was trying to get their names right. "They just moved to the neighborhood."

"Oh, that's swell!" Alex exclaimed. "Dr. Alex Stone. Pleased to meet you." He shook their hands.

"Dr. Stone?" Bunny asked, eyeing the tall, handsome man. "You're a doctor?"

"Yes," he answered. "Pediatrics mostly. Well, Donna, do we have some lunch ready?"

"Sure, honey, have a seat, I'll get it." Donna trotted off to prepare something for her husband.

"Wait a second," Arcadia said, trying to stifle a laugh. "Let me get this straight. Your name is Dr. Alex Stone, your wife is Donna, you have a son named Jeff... let me guess, daughter's name is Mary?"

"Why, yes, how did you know?" Donna asked, surprised, as she brought Alex a plate.

"Do you know Mary from somewhere?" Alex asked. "Cheerleading... perhaps?" He gave Arcadia's outfit another look over.

"Well, I'm not sure how to say this," Arcadia explained. "But I've seen you on TV! You know, the 'Donna Reed Show?'"

Alex and Donna looked at each other funny. "Oh, you mean the historical documentaries!" Donna exclaimed, laughing. "Well, of course, silly. We've all seen them!"

"Obviously," Arcadia said, under her breath. "More than once."

"What are the historical documentaries?" Xev asked.

Alex answered before Arcadia could offer her explanation.

"You must be new to the neighborhood!" he exclaimed. "The historical documentaries are what we began to receive several years ago. No one knows where they originated. But we received the signal. They changed our lives. We were once a very different society. Hateful, bitter, violent. The documentaries showed us a better way. We modeled our world after them. And," he hugged his wife, smiling," as you can see, it's made all the difference in the world!"

"Wow!" Bunny said. "This sounds like a such a nice place!"

"Yeah," Arcadia chuckled, "better than 'Leave It To Beaver!'"

"Oh, you HAVE seen them, then!" Donna exclaimed.

"Listen," Arcadia said, excusing herself from the table. "I'll bet this is a wonderful place, but are there people on this planet who haven't been affected by the 'historical documentaries?'"

"Why would you want to know that?" Alex asked uneasily.

"Well, I was just hoping that..." Arcadia started to say.

"We don't talk about the Outsiders!" Donna exclaimed, somewhat upset.

"Now, now, honey," Alex said, comforting his wife. "It's okay. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it." He looked to Arcadia for affirmation.

"Um, right," Arcadia agreed, hesitantly.

"Hey, can we see these historical documentaries?" Xev asked. "I'd love to see them, really!"

"Yeah, me too!" Bunny exclaimed.

"Why, of course!" Donna replied, cheerfully. She showed them to the TV, and turned it on. "Our television stations show the documentaries around the clock, just to remind us, and give us encouragement."

The three women sat down, as Donna flipped through the channels. It landed on "I Love Lucy."

"Oh, my favorite!" Donna cried.

"Oh my God!" Arcadia said, trying not to crack up.

Alex and Donna gasped in horror. "Now look," Alex said, a little sternly. "I realize you're a guest here, but please refrain from using profanity in this house."

"Sorry," Arcadia said, meekly, but very amused.

Xev and Bunny were enthralled. They watched the episode all the way through. Then, they stayed glued to the set as an episode of "Father Knows Best" came on.

"Okay, Xev? Bunny?" Arcadia said, after the program. "I really think we should be going now."

"Oh, Arcadia, let's stay and watch some more!" Xev exclaimed. "I really like these!"

"Oh yes!" Bunny agreed. "I've never seen stuff like this before! I love it! This is a great planet!"

Arcadia sighed, and sat back down. She wondered how much more of "My Three Sons," "The Patty Duke Show," and "Dobie Gillis" she could take in one dose!

"Swell," she whispered to herself. "Just swell!"

***

Arcadia, Xev, and Bunny were invited to stay for dinner at the Stone residence. They were soon introduced to their daughter, Mary, a pretty young teenager.

"You look very familiar," Mary said to Arcadia. "Were you in any movies recently? I thought I saw you on screen at the drive-in last weekend!"

"Not likely," Arcadia replied, trying not to draw attention to the fact that she could possibly have passed as one of Raquel Welch's co-stars in "One Million Years B.C."

Arcadia made her apologies at the door. "Look, I'm very sorry," she said, "but we've got some plans tonight." She shot a look at Xev and Bunny to suggest that they needed to get the hell out of here!

"Oh, that's okay," Bunny said, densely. "Why don't you go ahead with your plans, and come back for Xev and me later, after dinner?" Her mouth was obviously watering over the home-made pot roast Donna was preparing.

Arcadia closed her eyes, shaking her head, trying to figure out a polite, unobrusive way to do this.

"Yes, you're all welcome to have dinner with us," Donna said, setting the table. "Mary, help me with the salad, please."

Xev and Bunny seemed quite eager in this whole arrangement. Arcadia was dreading the thought of living the rest of her life in metaphorical black and white, and yet, her friends seemed very content! However, she remembered something about the mention of the Outsiders...

"Tell you what," Arcadia said, smiling. "Why don't you two enjoy your dinner, while I go and do a couple of things, okay?"

She began to walk out the door.

"But, what will you do for supper, dear?" Donna called after her.

"I'll grab some take-out," Arcadia replied, and left.

Alex and Donna looked at each other in wonder. "Take out?" they said.

***

Arcadia didn't know anything about these Outsiders, nor where to begin looking. But she had to start somewhere. She walked back to the moth and hopped in.

"Stan," she said into the squawker, trying to hail the Little Lexx.

***

On the bridge, Stan was snoozing, completely unaware of 790's poetic tirade.

"Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum,
The Tweedle sleeps, and sucks his thumb,
While the Head keeps watch, sitting in wait,
For the time when Stan becomes Cluster Lizard bait!"

"Stan!" Arcadia's voice came through on the speaker.

"Wake up, Moron!" 790 barked. "My Amazon Princess calls me!"

"Huh, what?" Stan stirred.

"Stan, come in!" Arcadia's voice said again.

"Yeah, what?" Stan said, still drowsy.

"I need you to do me a favor," she said.

"You can do me a favor, Tower of Feminine Power and Robot Lust!" 790 called out. "Come back here, squish Tweedle to a pulp, and take me!"

"Switch Off!" Arcadia's voice squawked through, with an annoyed sound. 790 fell silent.

"Thank you!" Stan exclaimed. "Now, what is it?"

"I need you to have Little Lexx monitor any and all transmissions from the planet surface that DO NOT have anything to do with black and white broadcasts showing a bunch of middle-class tight-wads."

"What?" Stan asked, not having a clue.

"Oh, never mind!" Arcadia said again, sighing. "Just instruct Lexx to scan all frequencies, and have him isolate any signal that seems in any way different from all the others!"

"Uh, sure," Stan replied, still not quite understanding. "What's the story down there?"

"I'm not really sure... yet," came the reply. "Arcadia out."

Stan closed the channel, and gave Little Lexx Arcadia's instructions. He lay his head back down to finish his nap.

790 clicked back on. "Oh, you're still here!" he groaned, seeing Stan.

***

Arcadia flew in the night sky, keeping watch for anything that might suggest something other than mid-twentieth century American suburbia. So far, not much luck!

Stan came on the squawker some time later. "Arcadia, is this what you're looking for?" he asked.

Arcadia could hear something from Little Lexx's speaker. It sounded like a radio transmission, but as if the dial on the set was constantly being changed, going from channel to channel. She heard rock music at times intermittently, news clips that didn't resemble a 1950's broadcast, and other sounds that certainly would not have been part and parcel of mainstream society here!

"That's it!" Arcadia said. "They could be the Outsiders!"

"The who?" Stan asked, through the squawker.

"Never mind, just give me the coordinates of that signal," Arcadia ordered.

She turned the moth around, and headed for something unknown, something possibly dangerous. And for some reason, Arcadia felt really good about it!

***

On the Little Lexx, Stan was having one of his 7-minute itches... again.

"I just don't get it," Stan mumbled to himself. "I'm the captain of the now-new ultimate weapon of destruction in the... well, just the Dark Zone now... and I've got three gorgeous, hot women on board, and I'm the ONLY man available... and they would rather hop down to some unknown, probably dangerous, planet for fun and excitement rather than do the wild thing with good ol' captain Stan!"

"Have you looked at yourself lately, Security Guard class rotgrub?" 790 inserted, overhearing Stan.

"Yeah, like you could win any beauty contests!" Stan shot back. "Except the Miss Kitchen Appliance Pageant, possibly."

"You might as well give up on the ladies and throw yourself over the ledge, to your painful death below," 790 yawned. "Xev has never had any interest in you, and never will, Bunny's a lost cause in every department, and the Mountain of Amazon Magnetism whom you call Arcadia would disect your shriveled pecker and tie it into a miniature pretzel around your pathetic disembodied little brain before giving you even the briefest of seconds in her heavenly musk-scented loin cloth!"

Stan clenched his jaw, frustrated. Although a yapping can, the Robot Head had a point. What was he going to do? The three most available women to him would rather lick each other than pleasure their captain! Of course, there was always the planet below...

"No, dammit!" Stan said to hinself. "I'm NOT going to fall into that trap again! The moment I go down there, something terrible is going to happen, I just know it! It always does!"

"Who knows?" 790 piped up again. "Perhaps there are women down there who will oblige your limited, impotent needs?"

"Ahhh... shut up!" Stan shouted, about to pick up the head and toss him over the ledge.

The viewscreen flickered, and an image came on. It was showing a tropical island, and a group of people. There was a fat, white-haired man with a sailors' hat, a skinny little fellow standing next to him, a middle-aged ritzy-looking couple, some fellow who was referred to as "professor" although he hardly looked like an academician, a stunning red-haired beauty, and a very pretty brunette, who had her shirt tied up around her belly-button in the cutest way.

"Skipper," the redhead said, pouting, "you and Gilligan have to figure out a way to get some men on the island!"

"I'm a man," the skinny fellow said.

"She means real men, little buddy," the skipper explained.

"No offense, Gilligan," the pretty brunette offered, "but Ginger and I are really in a predicament. The skipper's too old, Mr. Howl is married, the professor is nice and all, but not really available, and you're... well, you're..."

Gilligan looked quite confused.

"Little Lexx!" Stan exclaimed, jumping up. "Where's that signal coming from?"

"From the planet below," Little Lexx replied.

"Well, zoom in on it and give me the coordinates!" Stan said, gleefully, rubbing his hands together. "Stan the Man's gonna save the day for those two island beauties!"

Stan headed off towards the moths. 790 started chuckling wickedly.

"Oh, I hope this ends up being more than just a three-hour tour! Hehehehehehe!" he laughed.

***

The strange signal that Arcadia was following led her and the moth she was flying to a very remote island off the coast of one of the large continents. It was quite desolate, except for a Gothic structure inland some. It was walled, with towers, a dome and steeple. It resembled a cathedral somewhat.

Arcadia set down a ways from the entrance. She walked towards the gate. There was a large bell, which she proceeded to ring. Soon, a woman came to the gate. She was dressed in black, with some white trim.

"This is a convent?" Arcadia asked, surprised.

"Welcome," the woman said. "I am Sister Aurelan. And yes, this is the Kronos Convent. How can we help you?"

Arcadia cleared her throat, trying to make sense of this. "I must be mistaken," she said. "I was following the signal of some very peculiar transmissions, at least by the standards of what I've seen here so far. But... this can't possibly be the source!"

The woman looked carefully at Arcadia, studying her. She opened the gate.

"Perhaps you'd like to speak with our Matron," she said, escorting Arcadia inside. "I'll take you to her."

Arcadia followed the "nun" to a central building within the walls. She entered the Matron's office. The woman was a tall, dark-haired lady, similar in build to Arcadia. She was wearing a similar garment as the other sister.

"My name is Sabriel," the Matron stated. "I understand you have sought us out for some particular reason?"

"Yes," Arcadia replied. "My name is Arcadia. I've come to your world along with my shipmates. We encountered..."

She stopped short. Sabriel's expression had changed dramatically upon Arcadia's introduction of herself.

"I've been expecting you," she said, quietly. "Please, this way."

Puzzled, Arcadia followed Sabriel down a staircase, below the main level of the convent. They walked thru strange, dark caverns beneath. Sabriel had a lantern to provide light. They finally came to a large chamber, well-lit, and Arcadia stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth dropped open in shock.

There, before her, in the center of the room, stood a large, black onyx ring, hollow in the middle. It was a Portal, identical in every way to the one she had seen and used millenia ago in the Light Universe on Calashadir, the one in the care of The Keepers, a strange monastic organization.

"Now, do you understand?" Sabriel asked.

It was getting late in Springfield. Supper was done, more black and white re-runs on TV, and bedtime was fast-approaching. Dr. Stone was still out on a house call. Xev and Bunny were in a little predicament, however.

"Is your friend coming back soon?" Donna asked the two women.

"I was hoping so," Xev replied. "Arcadia's probably exploring or checking in on Stan. She should be back before too long."

"Oh, well," Donna said, not understanding, but always polite. "Do you have a place to stay tonight?"

"Not really," Bunny stated. "Arcadia has the moth."

"Moth?" Donna asked, confused. "Well, it doesn't matter, you're welcome to stay with us for the night. We'll just put you in Mary's room."

"Oh, really, mother?" Mary exclaimed, overhearing the conversation. "It'll be just like a slumber party!"

"Sure!" Xev agreed, cheerfully, not knowing what they were talking about, but curious. "Sounds fun!"

Xev and Bunny were given some spare nighties and showed the bathroom in Alex and Donna's room, where they could change, and do whatever they needed to get ready for bed. They found the two separate twin beds in the master bedroom quite amusing!

They settled into Mary's room for the night, using sleeping bags and pillows. Mary was quite excited at the prospect of having Xev and Bunny there!

"This is going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed, hopping into bed and turning the lights down. She reached down under her bed and pulled out some contraption.

"What's that?" Bunny asked.

"Short-wave radio," Mary whispered. "Shhhh! Mother and Father don't know about it!"

She turned it on, quietly, and kept the volume down. Some very hip music came through.

"This is the only way I can listen to this," Mary explained. "Pirate radio. It's illegal. But the music is so boss!"

Xev and Bunny were listening to the tunes, as Mary pulled out another piece of contraband, a bottle of booze!

"Here, want a drink?" Mary offered.

Xev and Bunny each helped themselves to a sip, both of them choking on the shine!

"Shhhhh!" Mary warned, yanking the bottle back. "We gotta be quiet! If Mother and Father find out..."

"What is that stuff?" Xev asked, trying to stifle her coughs.

"Just a bit of JD," Mary replied. Xev and Bunny were blank. "Jack Daniels?" she said again, clarifying. "What, can't you read the label?"

"No," Xev replied, quite normally.

"Jeez Louise!" Mary remarked. "You two really are from somewhere else! What do you do for fun?"

Xev and Bunny kind of looked at each other. Bunny shrugged.

"Lots of things," she said. "We just don't get too many chances on board the Lexx."

"Yeah," Xev agreed, considering her male shipmates. "No chances at all!"

"I'll bet you both have lots of boyfriends!" Mary exclaimed, smiling.

"No, not really," Bunny sighed.

"Here," Mary said, pulling out a scrapbook. "I'll show you pictures of mine!"

She opened the folio, revealing photo after photo of guys, most of them in quite revealing attire!

"Wow!" Xev exclaimed, rotating the folio some to get a better angle. "These hunks are all yours?"

"Well, not exactly," Mary answered. "I write to some of them, they send pictures. I've only actually had sex with a few of them. We have to be careful around here, you know. Not even Lovers' Lane or The Point are safe anymore!"

Bunny was staring wide-eyed at one of the photos which showed a young man completely nude.

"I could get used to some of that!" she said, smiling.

"How old are you?" Xev asked, looking at Mary.

"Sixteen," Mary replied, a little defensively. "But I'm a very mature sixteen!"

They looked at some more nudies, had a few more sips, and listened to some more music before going to sleep.

***

Arcadia walked up closer to the Portal, running her fingers along the smooth, black surface. It had been a long time... and the memory she had of this thing...

"No, I don't understand," Arcadia said, shuddering. "The Light Universe was destroyed, along with this... Portal, the Keepers, everything. How can this POSSIBLY be here?"

"This Portal is not what you saw long ago," Sabriel explained. "The Time Prophet used this to see into the cycles of time..."

"Yes, yes, I know all that!" Arcadia interrupted. "The Keepers on Calashadir explained it all."

"But they didn't tell you everything," Sabriel continued. "There wasn't just a single Portal in the Light Universe. There were two, another in the Dark Zone, this one here. The Time Prophet used them both, so she could know the fates of both universes. The Keepers took charge of their Portal in their universe. We, the Sisters of Kronos, were given charge of this one."

Arcadia was stunned. She circled the Portal, still looking at it, admiring its design.

"That's how you knew I was coming, didn't you?" Arcadia reasoned.

Sabriel nodded. "Yes," she said. "It's also how we know the future, and the past, depending on how you look at it."

She came closer to Arcadia, her voice lowering. "We also know that your presence on our planet is dangerous. Even as we speak, your captain is about to alter this world's design, permanently."

"Yeah, well, I don't think a little altering would hurt anything, seeing what I've seen so far!" Arcadia said.

"You don't understand," Sabriel explained. "With the destruction of Earth, we are the last remnant of humanity in the only universe remaining. There are no other planets left with our species, yours and mine!"

Arcadia looked at her, not quite taking in the whole meaning of what she was saying.

"Are you saying that besides myself, Bunny, Xev, Stan, and the people of this planet, there are NO OTHER HUMANS left ANYWHERE???" Arcadia asked, pointedly.

"That is correct," Sabriel responded, soberly. "Now do you understand? This society is not here by accident. This planet was on the verge of destroying itself less than a century ago. Then, we at the convent intercepted transmissions from Earth, only 30 light years or so away. We saw the broadcasts, the 'historical documentaries' as they're called now, and began a renaissance, in hopes of restoring an order that would survive, and keep the human race from becoming
extinct!"

"Oh, my God!" Arcadia gasped, looking at things in a new light. "So, not to sound corny, but 'Leave It To Beaver' literally saved humanity?"

"With more certainty than you're aware of," Sabriel replied.

"So, then you're the Outsiders?" Arcadia asked, starting to piece it all together.

"Yes," Sabriel explained. "We are the Keepers of the Portal now, the keepers of the terrible secret, feared, shunned, yet necessarily so, so that hopefully humankind can retain some form of innocence, some kind of stability, in hopes that once again, our species will grow, before time ends, and time begins again, and the horrors of the Insect Wars once again threaten our existence in the next cycle of time."

She touched Arcadia on the shoulder. "Now you know," she said calmly.

Arcadia exhaled, her mind reeling. "I've got to go," she said decisively, walking back to the entrance of the chamber. "I have to warn my friends."

"I'm sorry," Sabriel said. "I can't let you do that."

"Why not?" Arcadia gasped.

"You've seen, heard, and learned what only Sisters can," Sabriel explained. "Like a few others before you, you must now stay, in the convent, and join us in our work, never to know the outside again."

"Like Hell!" Arcadia cried. "I'm leaving, and you're not going to stop me!"

She made a move for the doorway. Sabriel was ready, and pulled a small device from inside her robe. She aimed, and fired a sinewy energy bolt at Arcadia. She went down.

"I'm sorry it must be this way," Sabriel stated, motioning for a couple of the Sisters to come and take her away. "But we have no choice."

***

Stan was having trouble homing in on that signal. The moth darted across the planet's diverse landscape, continuing the search.

"790," Stan called into the squawker, trying to hail the Little Lexx, "can you re-confirm those coordinates for me?"

"Whatever for?" 790 laughed, enjoying himself tremendously.

"790!" Stan replied, more forceful. "I know that signal was coming from somewhere down here, and I know that you can help me lock in on it!"

"La La La La La," 790 responded, humming apathetically.

Stan switched off. He was REALLY getting horny now, and somewhere, on some island on this planet, were two women that he knew for certain would be receptive to his masculine manhood!

***

Xev and Bunny got a wonderful breakfast the next morning. Donna made pancakes, sausage, bacon, hash browns, eggs, and ham steak, before sending Alex off to work with a kiss, and Mary and Jeff off to school with their bag lunches and satchels. Xev thought it was very tasty. Bunny nearly got sick from so much of it!

"Well, I am so pleased to have met you two sweet young ladies!" Donna exclaimed, as Xev and Bunny were preparing to leave. "I do so hope you find your friend, and always feel free to stop by and visit!"

"Thanks," Xev said. She turned to Bunny. "I really am starting to worry about Arcadia, though."

"Yeah," Bunny added. "She didn't come back last night. I hope she's okay."

They said their good-byes, and left the Stone residence, walking down Elm Street.

***

Arcadia awoke in shackels, behind bars in the convent. She gave the chains a tug. Strong and tight. Not a chance of breaking out. She really wished she still had Starburst handy right about now!

Sister Aurelan came and checked on her. "Oh, you're awake," she said. "I'll inform the Matron."

"Yeah, while you're doing that...!" Arcadia called out, but the Sister was already gone.

Sabriel showed up a few minutes later.

"I take it this is how the Sisters treat their guests?" Arcadia inquired, sarcastically.

"I'm truly sorry," Sabriel replied. "Please, you must understand our situation."

"What I understand," Arcadia stated, with emphasis, "is that I'm being held a prisoner, against my will, for no reason other than I'm privy to some information that in all honesty wouldn't be ANY harm to ANYONE here on this Pleasantville-Planet!"

"Who are you to judge what is or is not harmful to this society?" Sabriel asked, a bit more harsher tone than usual in her voice. "I was a little girl when this world was in chaos! I remember! And I know that what we have now is so much better, not only for our planet, but for humanity as a whole, of which we represent now,
almost exclusively, save for you and your friends. If I were to release you, no telling what would be done, and what repercussions it would have on everyone. It's a risk I simply cannot take!"

"So, what are you going to do?" Arcadia asked. "Keep me here, locked up, for the rest of my life? Because that's what you're going to have to do if you don't want me finding Xev, Bunny, and Stan and telling them what I now know to be true!"

"That's hardly necessary," Sabriel explained. "We have our methods to convert you. You're not the first to discover our secrets. Others have been where you are right now, and today, as a result of our techniques, are now fully-converted, loyal, and dedicated Sisters."

"No," Arcadia insisted, shaking her head. "I'll never be turned. You'll have to kill me first!"

"Trust me," Sabriel said, smiling. "It won't come to that. You're obviously very strong-willed, Arcadia. But believe me, you WILL be turned!"

Arcadia watched as the Matron walked away, closing the door to the cell, leaving her alone to ponder.

***

Xev and Bunny were getting quite the tour of suburbia. They stopped to get an ice cream from the ice cream man in his truck. It was getting towards mid-day when they came across Springfield High School.

"Hmm, I wonder what this building is?" Xev asked.

"It looks like a school," Bunny replied, remembering her cheer-leading days.

"School?" Xev asked, curious. "You mean with teachers?"

"Yeah," Bunny said. "I remember when I was in high school. It was a lot of fun!"

"Well," Xev asked, taking Bunny's hand and heading up the steps. "You wanna go to class?"

The girls snickered, and went inside the school.

They were immediately cornered by the principal. "Oh, thank goodness!" he exclaimed. "Where have you been?" he asked.

"What?" Xev asked, confused.

"You two are the P.E. substitutes, right?" he motioned to their outfits.

"Oh, yeah!" Bunny replied, smiling at Xev.

"Well, hurry up!" the principal said, showing them the way. "Gym class is already started!"

Xev and Bunny were shown the school gym. There were thirty-odd boys in gym shorts and tank-tops, standing around, waiting.

"No girls?" Bunny asked, surprised.

"Co-ed gym?" the principal gasped, shocked. "What kind of school do you think this is?" He turned around and left Xev and Bunnys standing there.

The boys saw their "substitutes." They started smiling, and nudging each other. "All right!" some were saying, others whistling and doing cat-calls.

"Oh yeah!" Xev whispered to Bunny. "This is going to be fun!"

***

Stan found an island soon enough. It was small, tropical-looking, similar to the one he saw on the screen.

"Oh yeah!" he thought to himself. "Captain Stan's about to get some!"

He flew the moth down, closer. He could see a large structure below, and... another moth parked nearby!

"Arcadia?" he thought, thinking about their last conversation. "No..."

He took the moth down, landing it near the other one. Arcadia was no where to be seen. Neither were Xev nor Bunny.

"This has GOT to be the island!" Stan tried to convince himself. But if Arcadia, Xev, and Bunny were here...

He hurried up towards the gate of the building, in hopes of finding some answers!

***

"All right!" Bunny shouted across the gym floor. "Jumping jacks! Ready... go! 1... 2...!"

Xev and Bunny were leading the teenage boys in calisthenics. The girls were having a great time. The boys were huffing and puffing, trying to keep up!

A couple of the boys, too winded to continue, dropped out, sagging to the floor, out of breath!

"Hold!" Bunny called. The group stopped, sighing with relief.

"Hey," Xev said, running over to the boys. "You boys okay?"

"Miss Xev, Miss Bunny," one of the boys gasped. "We're tired! We can't keep this up!"

The other boys muttered their agreement.

"Well," Xev said, thinking. "This is gym class. What other forms of exercise do you recommend?"

The boys smiled at each other, their tiredness slipping away.

"The school has a swimming pool!" one of the boys exclaimed. "We could swim!"

"Oooh, yeah!" Bunny agreed. "Swimming is great exercise!"

"Do we have swimsuits?" Xev asked.

"No," the boys replied, smiling.

"Oh," Xev replied. "Okay, well, I guess we'll just have to skinny-dip."

"Yeah!" the boys called out, making a mad dash for the pool, stripping down eagerly.

Xev started taking off her clothes. "Well, Bunny?" she asked, looking at her co-teacher. "Shall we have some swimming lessons?"

"Sure, why not?" Bunny exclaimed, stripping down as well.

Xev and Bunny followed the now naked boys to the large indoor athletic-sized pool, where they all dove in together.

***

Arcadia was trying to keep focused. It wasn't easy. The brain-washing techniques that Sabriel was using were quite formidable! Arcadia's training on Ostral-B was helping. She was fighting it, but she didn't know for how long she could manage.

She was in a chair, her hands bound by cords. They were tight, but Arcadia was slowly loosening them, quite unobrusively, as she wiggled and squirmed, attempting to fight the mind probe. She could hear Sabriel's voice in a kind of quasi-real tone.

"You believe in the Sisters," she was saying, trance-like. "You are loyal to Kronos, set for the defense of our cause, and the keeping of our knowledge."

Arcadia squirmed, writhing, trying to keep her head about her. The cords were nearly loosed, but she didn't have the strength or willpower to break free of the hypnotic rhythm of Sabriel's voice.

"You trust the Matron," she continued. "You are in complete obedience to our code. You..."

The sound of Sabriel's voice suddenly stopped. Arcadia could barely make out Stan being escorted in by Sister Aurelan. The Matron was interrupted. Arcadia tried to form the words.

"Stan!" she cried, gasping. "Help me!"

Sabriel turned, alarmed. Stan saw what was happening, and ran forward, past Sister Aurelan.

"Arcadia!" he yelled out. "Nooooooooo!!!!!"

Sabriel spun suddenly, accidently knocking the switch on the machine. The beam faded. Arcadia could feel her mind clear. The bonds were loose enough.

Sabriel had her hand in her robe, pulling out her device, about to stun the startled Stan. Arcadia pulled, jerking free, and rushed the Matron.

She grabbed her arm, knocking the device clear just in time. It went flying towards Stan. Arcadia got Sabriel in a hold, keeping her at bay.

"Stan!" she shouted. "Grab it, quick!"

Stan jumped, taking the device before Aurelan could get it. Arcadia got a stronger grip on Sabriel.

"Shoot it, hurry!" Arcadia ordered.

Stan turned and pointed it at Aurelan. He pressed the button. The beam shot out, striking the Sister, dropping her to the ground.

Arcadia spun Sabriel around, and took her best shot. The Matron went down like a sack of bricks, knocked out cold.

"Arcadia," Stan exclaimed, "what the...?"

Arcadia ran to him, throwing her arms around the surprised captain. Stan accepted the embrace, awkwardly.

"Thank you, Stan!" she said, letting go after a second. "You just saved my life, you know that?"

"I did?" Stan asked, in awe. "I mean... yeah..." his demeanor changed to feigned smugness. "I guess it just goes to show..."

He didn't get a chance to finish. Arcadia grabbed the stunner from his hand, and yanked Stan out of the room.

"Come on," she said. "Let's get out of here and find Xev and Bunny!"

***

"Sweet Jesus!" the principal yelled, as he saw the scene at the pool. He had just received an anonymous call that something was amiss in the gym.

"What the...?" He tried covering his eyes, but admittedly, he did sneak a peek at the two "teachers."

The boys suddenly realized they were caught. They hopped out of the pool, trying their best to cover their privates, most of which were, at this point... quite noticeable!

"Hey, where are you going?" Xev called out.

Bunny noticed the principal. She poked Xev on the shoulder.

"Uh, oh," she said. "I think... we might have detention coming!"

Xev and Bunny slowly emerged. The principal threw them towels.

"I want you to dry off, get your clothes on, and GET OUT OF MY SCHOOL!" he yelled. "To think! Doing this, this... thing! And with high school boys!"

Xev and Bunny quickly dried and dressed. They were firmly escorted off school property.

"And don't even THINK about taking a substitute position in Springfield EVER AGAIN!" the principal called out.

Xev and Bunny walked back down to the street, stopping at the corner, looking back at the pristine-looking school.

"What did we do?" Xev asked, innocently.

***

Arcadia and Stan ran down the corridor beneath the convent, trying to find a way of escape.

"The moths are outside!" Arcadia commented. "We got to find a way up top!"

"Yeah, but how?" Stan asked.

They rounded a corner, and saw a group of the Sisters coming around from the other direction. They were armed!

"Ah, dammit!" Arcadia yelled, making a quick 180 and bolting down back the other way, with Stan close at her heels.

"Maybe this way!" Stan yelled, stopping and ducking into an intersecting passage-way.

"You sure?" Arcadia asked.

"No!" Stan shouted, resuming his running. Arcadia sighed, and charged after him.

She could hear the Sisters behind them, in pursuit. Arcadia couldn't keep a very good eye on their progress, and she really didn't remember the corridors down here. They saw a light ahead.

"I think that's it!" Stan cried.

They entered the room where the light source was. Arcadia came screeching to a halt. It was the Portal Chamber!

Stan's mouth dropped wide open at seeing the majestic black ring.

"Oh, my...!" he stammered.

They were trapped. There was no other exit. The room was a dead end. Arcadia knew they only had a few seconds. There was a statue in the corner of the room, one that Arcadia hadn't noticed the first time. In its petrified hands, there was a large sword.

Arcadia ran over, wresting the blade from the statue's stone grip. It was a heavy, two-handed sword. The best she could do at the moment!

"Stay behind me, Stan!" she ordered. She faced the doorway, her back to the Portal. Stan was right behind her.

"Whatever you say!" Stan replied, fearfully.

Arcadia readied her stance. She didn't know how many Sisters she would have to take on. But she knew it was her and Stan's only chance!

She was not aware of the silent, misty swirling beginning to form in the hollow center of the Portal. It was coalescing, gaining substance. Had Arcadia been watching, she would have recognized it as being very similar to the movement preceeding her short encounter with the Portal's twin, ages ago.

Stan didn't see it either. A group of Sisters entered the room. They stopped short, gasping at what they saw. Arcadia, sword in hands, prepared to do battle. Stan, right behind her, watching intently, oblivious to the kaleidoscope working behind them!

Arcadia took a step back, ready for the assault. Stan was forced to step back as well, and...

Neither Arcadia nor Stan was aware of just how close he was to the Portal. He stepped back, and lost his footing on the lower rim. He stumbled, and fell into the Portal.

Arcadia spun quickly, reaching out, but it was too late. Stan's form began to shimmer, as he was sucked into the Portal!

"Stan! NOOOO!!!" Arcadia cried. She tried to step forward, but her feet were frozen, as if her mind couldn't get her body to do what she wanted.

Stan's hand was the last part to go through. As it was fading, a bright light shot out from it, and the Key left his body. Arcadia was standing right in front, her hand outstretched, trying to save Stan. The Key shimmered, and went into her palm. Then, he disappeared from sight, and the Portal went void once more.

Arcadia turned back, facing the frightened Sisters. They began to back up, away from the Portal, more terrified at what they had seen than the formidable Amazon wielding a sword! Her face red with anger, and her mind filled with vengeance, lashed out.

The Sisters weren't stupid. They could see what kind of opponent they would have to face. They ran.

Arcadia barrelled after them, screaming in fury. She followed the Sisters up a flight of stairs, managing to catch one and hack her mightily. She continued to run, almost mindless, until she reached the top, and the outside.

The convent was alerted to her presence. She could see the gate at the end of the bailey, starting to close. Arcadia sprinted forward.

The gate was almost shut. Arcadia leaped, catching the end bars with her hands. She pulled with all her strength. The gate slowed, just long enough for her to push herself though, landing safely on the other side.

Breathing heavily, and still quite upset, she walked towards the two moths. Leaving Stan's to fend for itself, Arcadia hopped in hers, and took off.

She didn't know where Stan was, but she was quite certain that Xev and Bunny hadn't gotten too far from Springfield!

Arcadia soon found Xev and Bunny, exploring a nice neighborhood park in Springfield. Xev was particularly entralled with the swing set, and was laughing as Bunny was pushing her from behind. Arcadia set her moth down on the grass, and ran over to the girls.

"Hey, Arcadia!" Xev called out, seeing her. "Where have you been? You got to try this out!" She laughed gleefully and then jumped down, mid-air.

"Xev, Bunny," Arcadia said, "we got a problem."

It took her a while to explain what had happened the past few hours. The girls were horrified.

"Oh my God! Stan!" Xev cried. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know yet," Arcadia replied. "If what Sabriel told me is true, and I doubt she has any reason to lie, then this planet is the last stronghold for humanity in the universe. We can't do anything to jeopardize it. As for Stan..." her voice trailed off.

"Is there any way we can rescue him?" Bunny asked, worried.

"I don't know that either," Arcadia answered, trying to wrack her brain for any ideas. "I used the Portal on Calashadir in the Light Universe once before. The Keepers allowed me what they called a 'moment in time' to... say goodbye to someone." It was still difficult for her to think about that tragedy.

"Do you think Stan is stuck in the same situation now?" Xev asked.

"Again, I really don't know," Arcadia stated, wishing she had some more answers, "and that's the problem. If he is, I don't know how to get him out. If he's not, then who knows where or when he ended up at! From what I've observed, the Portal has very few limitations!"

"Well, it seems we only have one alternative," Xev said, decisively. "We'll have to get back in the convent and find the Portal again."

"Easier said than done, I'm afraid," Arcadia sighed.

"Well, we have to try!" Xev said forcefully.

"Yeah!" Bunny exclaimed, in agreement. "We just can't leave Stan behind. He's our captain!"

"Well, technically not anymore," Arcadia commented, flashing the key in her palm.

Xev saw it, surprised, but relieved at the same time.

"But it doesn't matter," Arcadia said again. "Stan's one of us. He's my friend, and despite his faults, he is the only fellow Heretic and kinsman I have left in this universe. I won't leave him!"

With that, the three women got in the moth and took off, to find Stan.

***

On the Little Lexx, 790 was watching the viewscreen, composing sonnets about his beloved Arcadia.

"If the manliest body in the cosmos were mine, On sweet Amazon flesh forever I'd dine..."

"790!" Arcadia's voice came on over the squawker.

"Oh!" 790 cried, ceasing his composition. "The voice of my Femme Fatale! Yes, O Strong and Sensual One?"

"790," Arcadia said again, sighing, "I need you to do me a favor."

"If it involves my lust-filled metal casing pressed close to your love-muffin, I'm all yours!" the Robot Head exclaimed joyfully.

"790, this is serious!" Arcadia yelled over the speaker.

"So am I!" 790 replied back. "Seriously in love with you!"

"I need you to scan for any kind of temporal displacement field on the planet," Arcadia instructed. "When you notice a surge of activity
in the relative bandwidth, I need you to contact me immediately! Do you understand?"

"Your Robot Head Fantasy wishes are always my command!" 790 replied, as Arcadia switched off.

790 sighed wistfully. "She's SO delicious when she's on a mission!"

***

Arcadia, Xev, and Bunny arrived at the convent. The second moth that Stan had flown in was still parked outside the gate. Arcadia didn't waste time with formalities. She simply took their moth down into the bailey, inside the walls of the convent!

The three of them hopped out, as a couple Sisters who witnessed the descent went running, to sound the alarm.

"So much for under-cover," Xev remarked.

"Screw it," Arcadia said. "I'm not wasting time with these bitches again!"

She pulled out her sword, the one she had taken from the statue earlier, and ran with Bunny and Xev towards the main building, leading the way.

"Stop, you can't...!" A few Sisters tried to intervene, much to their dismay. Arcadia simply sliced her way through, and led them down to where she believed the Portal chamber was located.

"790," Arcadia said in the squawker. "Am I getting close to any type of temporal displacement?"

"Yes, my beloved," the Robot Head replied. "There's a surge of radiation within ten meters of your location."

Arcadia closed the channel, and continued. There were Sisters in pursuit.

Bunny tripped at one point, crying out and dropping to the floor. Arcadia and Xev paused.

"Bunny, get up!" Xev exclaimed. "We have to keep moving!"

"I'm sorry," Bunny said, sobbing. "I think it's sprained! I'll only slow you down! Go, quickly, rescue Stan!"

"We can't leave you," Arcadia stated. "If the Sisters get their hands on you..."

"Please, GO!" Bunny urged, trying to push Arcadia and Xev off of her.

"We don't have much time," Arcadia exclaimed, pulling Xev away. "I'm sorry, Bunny!"

Xev was nearly in tears, but turned and ran with Arcadia, leaving Bunny in the corridor, injured.

They rounded another corner, and found themselves in the chamber. The Sisters could be heard close behind.

Arcadia handed Xev the sword. "I hope you remember what I taught you," she said. "You might have to hold them back. I'm going to try to work this Portal!"

Xev nodded, taking the sword. The Sisters entered, Sabriel leading them.

"No!" the Matron shouted at Arcadia. "You can't intervene! What's done is done!"

"I'm not leaving your world without Stan!" Arcadia shot back, menacingly. Xev held the sword at ready, between Arcadia and the Sisters.

"Stan's our friend," Xev said, "and we're going to find him!"

The Sisters made a rush for Xev. She was ready for them, and entered melee, fighting with a ferocity that she hadn't shown in a long time.

Arcadia circled the Portal. She gazed in the center, trying to feel if there was some kind of secret she needed to manipulate the large black ring. She kept thinking of Stan, where he was, if he was in danger...

Almost as if the Portal was reading her mind, the center began to swirl, and a picture formed. She could see Stan on the bridge of Little Lexx, but it was frozen, as if he was in a "moment in time."

"Stan!" she cried, not really thinking he could hear her, but crying out of impulse more than rationale.

To her amazement, she could see Stan turn, looking around, as if he actually heard her! His lips were moving, as if calling out to her in response!

"Xev!" Arcadia called to her dueling companion. "I've found Stan! We have to jump, now!"

Xev turned, seeing the image. Arcadia ran around, pushing a Sister out of the way in the process, and grabbed Xev's hand. Xev threw the sword at Sabriel, in a final defense, and with Arcadia, jumped into the Portal.

"NOOOOO!!!!!" Sabriel cried out, but it was too late. Arcadia and Xev vanished, and the Portal went blank once more.

***

Arcadia and Xev found themselves on the bridge of Little Lexx. Stan was there.

"Oh, thank God!" he exclaimed, running to hug both Arcadia and Xev. "I can't even tell you how much I'm glad to see you both!"

"Oh, Stan!" Xev said, returning his hug. "I thought we had lost you!"

"I heard Arcadia's voice..." he said, "but... I didn't know where she was, or..."

Stan threw his arms around Arcadia, squeezing her tight. "I am SO glad to see you guys!"

Xev tried to get Stan caught up while Arcadia had a look around. They were in some kind of frozen time-state, like she had experienced on Calashadir, on the bridge of the DawnQuest, with Tristan. 790 was here, but frozen in time. Arcadia had to laugh to herself. Stan was probably happy with that at least! The viewscreen showed a horrifying image, also frozen in time. They were in orbit around the same planet, and Little Lexx's weapon burst was on a direct course to
destroy it!

"Stan," Arcadia said, "how long have you been here?"

"I'm not sure really," Stan replied. "I mean, I can't get Little Lexx to say anything!"

"That's because you gave me this before you got sucked in to the Portal," Arcadia stated, flashing the key again.

"You must have thought you were about to die," Xev reasoned.

"Yeah," Stan agreed, "well, wouldn't you?"

Arcadia went to the chair, and put her hand on the template. Nothing. Little Lexx was likewise frozen.

"This isn't good," Arcadia muttered.

"What?" Stan asked. "What's not good?"

"If this works the same way as it did with me on Calashadir," Arcadia explained, "then we're trapped in a moment in time. Time is standing still for us."

"So, what does that mean?" Xev asked.

"It means," Arcadia sighed heavily, "that unless we can find a way to get time resumed soon, with us a part of it, we'll be trapped in this state forever!"

***

It was a very strange experience. The three of them could move freely in the ship, but couldn't affect anything, other than themselves. Arcadia was sitting on the chair, on the bridge, thinking. The scene on the screen disturbed her. What could have caused the Little Lexx to fire on the planet? She remembered Sabriel's words. The last remnant of humanity. Could the Little Lexx be responsible for destroying the human race? And if Stan, Arcadia, and Xev hadn't jumped through the Portal...

The moment in time that they were trapped in had to be some point in the near future. They must have entered the Portal at a point before this was taking place, obviously. And, what about Bunny? Is she, or will she be, a victim like the rest of the people on the planet below? Even if they could resume time, could they prevent the destruction of the planet, and the end of Humanity, save the three of them?

Arcadia tried the key again. No use. The Little Lexx couldn't respond. It was frozen. She was actually frustrated now that 790 was frozen as well. At a time like this, no pun intended, they could really use him!

She couldn't remember a time when she felt so completely helpless!

Arcadia was still thinking when she heard the familiar voice.

"You're in quite a predicament this time, aren't you, my dear?"

Arcadia looked up, and saw him standing over her.

"Prince!" she exclaimed. "But, that's impossible! Xev destroyed you with Starburst!"

"Don't try to understand the fine tuning of metaphysics, Arcadia," Prince said, walking to the other side of her. "It's quite beyond your grasp."

Arcadia just looked at him, in amazement, and a little in fear.

"Actually, you're right in a sense," he continued. "If this were an ordinary situation, I couldn't be here. But..." he motioned around at the frozen time state "... this is anything but ordinary!"

"What are you doing here?" Arcadia asked, nervously.

"Oh, my dear!" Prince said, with feigned hurt. "I would think you would welcome my little reunion, given the fact that you were so instrumental of ridding me of my Avatar."

"I have no regrets," Arcadia stated, sullenly. "I did what I had to do to save my friends from you!"

"Very true," Prince agreed, "and now you're once again in a similar situation."

"How so?" Arcadia inquired.

"Oh, I would think it's quite obvious!" Prince laughed, pointing at the screen. "You've got a serious problem, don't you? You're trapped in time. If you remain here, you'll be lost forever in this state of limbo, not alive, not dead, just stuck! And if you can find a way to resume time, you have just doomed the human race to extinction. Sounds like quite a dilemma!"

"So," Arcadia said, "I assume you're here to offer me some kind of deal, a way out of this mess, right?"

"Well, it is the kind of work I've always been in, isn't it?" Prince replied with an evil grin. "And it just so happens I might have a way out for you, and Stan and Xev."

"If?" Arcadia remarked, knowing all too well the ways of Prince!

"You really don't give me enough credit, you know," Prince answered back. "I can undo your tragic mistake, if you agree to something."

"What?" Arcadia asked, "and what do you mean, 'my tragic mistake?'"

Prince laughed wickedly. "Oh, I suppose you can't know, can you?" he said. "It should be obvious to you."

"What should be?" Arcadia insisted. "And stop playing games!"

"How do you think your ship received its instructions to blow up this planet?" Prince explained. "Who got the key from Stan right before he went through the Portal?"

Arcadia was silent. How could that be? SHE was the one who ordered the Lexx to fire?

"That's impossible!" Arcadia exclaimed. "I haven't been up to the Lexx since..." she stopped, realizing her problem.

"Yes," Prince stated, helping her see the connection. "You really don't know what might have transpired between the time you entered the Portal and this moment in time now, in the future, do you? You might have very well returned to the Lexx at some point before this moment and, for reasons which might have made sense to you at the time, ordered your ship to destroy this planet, and all humanity!"

Arcadia was stunned. If what Prince said was true, could she really be responsible for this mess? She had no way of knowing, and if she didn't get out of this limbo, she could NEVER know!

"All right," Arcadia finally said. "What's your deal?"

"Quite simple," Prince explained. "I will re-direct the Lexx, in this suspended state, so that when time resumes, the shot will bypass this planet. In return, you must use the Portal again, since it will be still there unharmed, to go back and prevent my destruction by Xev."

"What???" Arcadia gasped. "You can't be serious!"

"I am very serious," Prince replied. "I can't exist in your universe anymore, thanks to you and Xev. That little sword of yours really did me in! But, if you want me to help you, you must do what I request. It's part of the bargain."

"And if I refuse?" Arcadia stated boldly.

"Then you'll be trapped here forever," Prince explained. "And I'll just have to look for another opportunity elsewhere."

He stepped back, still smiling. "I'll let you think on it for a little while. After all, you have all the time in the world!"

He laughed, then vanished. Arcadia slumped back down in her chair. What was she going to do?

***

Arcadia held a conference with Xev and Stan, explaining what had transpired with Prince.

"That sounds just like Prince!" Xev fumed, after hearing the report.

"So, what are we going to do?" Stan asked. "We can't make a deal with Prince, we just can't!"

"But if we don't, how are we going to get out of here, Stan?" Xev insisted. "I don't see many options here!"

"I agree," Arcadia said. "If we had 790, he might be able to help us figure out an alternative, but we don't, and I can't see any other!"

"If we take the deal," Stan stated, "we'll have to go back in the Portal and... change history! This time allowing Prince to live, and possibly destroy us anyway!"

"But if we don't," Xev commented, "we condemn ourselves to an eternity in... this!... And if time ever resumed, the planet would be destroyed, and so would humanity! I'm NOT going to have that on my conscience!"

Arcadia had thought of something. She wasn't sure about it, but suddenly, it seemed like the best option.

"What if we take Prince's deal," Arcadia said, still pondering her idea, "and allow him to divert the blast, and let time resume, but not play out our end quite the way he would like us to?"

"What do you mean?" Stan asked. "If we make the deal, we'll have to use the Portal and go back in time, and save Prince!"

"But what if we don't?" Arcadia said, "Not exactly that is."

"How?" Xev asked, not understanding.

Arcadia was smiling now. She had an idea. It would be tricky, even dangerous, but it just might work.

"I'll explain in a bit," Arcadia replied. "You and Stan are going to have to trust me. I need to go ahead and talk to Prince, alone."

"Arcadia," Stan said, trying to intervene.

"Stan, you're just going to have to trust me!" Arcadia insisted. "In all the time you've known me, have I ever betrayed you, or my friends? You've known me longer than anyone alive now. You know what kind of Heretic I was for Ostral-B. You flew missions with me. Please, believe me."

"I trust you," Xev said, smiling, touching Arcadia's shoulder.

"Yeah," Stan finally said, after a minute. "I suppose I do too."

"Okay then," Arcadia exclaimed. "Let's do this."

***

Prince appeared on the bridge sometime later, while Arcadia was alone.

"So?" he asked, "what's your decision?"

"I'm going to accept your terms," Arcadia replied. "Under one condition."

"And what is that?" Prince asked.

"Because I don't really trust you, I want you to give me your word that you will NOT interfere with me, Stan, or Xev until I can get to the Portal, go back, and ensure your survival in the past," Arcadia said. "Agreed?"

Prince considered for a moment. "Agreed," he said. "I'll be looking forward to our rendezvous in history," he laughed, and vanished.

"Yeah," Arcadia thought. "So will I!"

There was movement. Little Lexx was turning, and the beam with it! It was like stop-motion photography. It revolved until the beam was directed at a point not facing the planet. Then, there was a flash, and time resumed. The beam fired across space, missing the planet!

"Oh, no!" 790 exclaimed, suddenly animated. "My beloved! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!... what? Arcadia?" He suddenly noticed Arcadia on the bridge.

"You're alive!" he shouted. "But how...?"

"No time to explain!" Arcadia responded, running off the bridge to find Stan and Xev. She didn't have much time!

***

Arcadia, Stan, and Xev flew down in a moth. Arcadia had given the Little Lexx some very specific instructions, and she had left 790 on board.

"Why can't I come with you?" the Robot Head cried.

"Because I need you up here," Arcadia replied. "I've commanded the Little Lexx to destroy this planet in just 72 hours. I need you to keep in contact with me and let me know if ANYTHING tries to interfere with the Lexx's orders before that time, and I mean ANYTHING or ANYONE!"

"But, will I ever see you again?" 790 asked.

"Probably not," Arcadia answered. "But this is the only way I can prevent Prince from ever hurting anyone in this universe ever again!"

"Don't leave me!" 790 cried. "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"

"I'm sorry," Arcadia said, patting the Robot Head one last time. "I'll miss you, 790."

Arcadia, Stan, and Xev arrived at the convent. Sabriel was there to meet them.

"I received your message," she said to Arcadia. "Your plan seems the only way to save us. And I'm sorry for our differences in the past. I understand that your intentions are honorable."

"We need to move quickly," Arcadia said. "We only have 3 days."

"Preparations are underway," Sabriel explained. "And our people are moving."

It was the most incredible sight she had ever seen. The entire population of the planet, gathering here, within three days, and going through the Portal, to find some other place, some other time, so that no one would have to be left behind and destroyed.

Arcadia had explained everything to Sabriel. She was a sensible woman, and saw the danger, and the need. With everyone removed from the planet via the Portal, the Lexx's beam would destroy the planet, and the Portal, and Prince could never again try to find an opportunity to go back!

It was nearly time. 790 had not warned Arcadia of any intervention as of yet. All of the planet's inhabitants had passed through, except Sabriel. She would go through with Arcadia.

"I can't take the chance of Prince returning," Arcadia explained to Xev and Stan. "I can risk myself, but not you two."

"But, I want to come with you!" Xev insisted.

"You can't, Xev," Arcadia explained sadly. "I would like nothing better than to be with you, wherever and whenever we end up, but Stan needs you. When Sabriel and I are passed through, you and Stan will be the only two Human beings left in this universe, in this time. You need each other. This universe needs you, and Little Lexx, if there's to be hope for the future."

"I can't stand the idea of losing you again!" Xev cried. "Why do you have to go? Why?"

Xev burst into tears, hugging Arcadia, holding her close. Arcadia wanted to cry herself. She held Xev, tightly in her arms.

"I'll never forget you, Xev," she said softly, "and I'll always love you."

She leaned in and kissed Xev. Their lips locked, and Arcadia could feel the deep emotion passing between them.

"Ewwww!" Stan muttered. "I mean, can't you at least..."

Arcadia smiled, and released Xev for a moment. She walked to Stan, and held out her hand.

"Come here, Stan," she said.

Stan accepted her hand, hesitantly. Arcadia took it and brought him close, hugging him, and giving him a big kiss on his lips!

"Ostral-B forever!" she said, giving Stan one last secret handshake. She pulled away, and closed her eyes. Her hand outstretched, the key began to shimmer, and left her palm. It went for Stan, as he held up his hand, and he received it back.

Arcadia and Sabriel looked at each other, and with a final nod, jumped into the Portal together. The swirling stopped, and it was void again.

"Come on," Stan said to Xev. "Let's get out of here!"

They took the two moths back to the Lexx. They almost didn't make it. They had left the atmosphere when time ran out. The Lexx fired!

***

"Oh, no!" 790 exclaimed, horrified. "My beloved! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

On the screen, the planet burst into a million pieces, exploding. Stan and Xev arrived on the bridge a few minutes later, safe.

"So," Xev said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I guess we really did see a snapshot of the future after all."

"Yeah," Stan sighed. "It just doesn't seem real. But at least she's alive, somewhere, and the Portal's gone, so Prince can't use it in the future, and humanity is safe, at least sometime... somewhere..."

"I guess it's just you and me again, Stan," Xev remarked.

"And me!" 790 chimed in, "but without my Amazon Goddess!" He started virtually crying again.

"Well, being that once again we are the only two people left in the universe," Stan said smuggly. "One man, one woman... Stan and Xev... Xev and Stan..."

"Hmm," Xev stated, smiling at Stan frivolously. "You mean like Adam and Eve?"

"Yeah, exactly!" Stan said, thinking he was about to make a connection.

"Well," Xev said, as if she was thinking. "You had better start looking for the Tree in the Garden, because you're NOT getting any fruit from me!"

She laughed. 790 laughed as well.

Stan just grimaced. "Some things never change, I suppose," he said, putting his hand to the template.

"Lexx!" he called out. "Let's find ourselves another place to call home!"

"As you command, captain," Little Lexx replied, gulping up the planetary remains, and then setting course for the unknown.

Return