Flight of the Valkyrie

[Excerpt from the journal of Arcadia Shazemne, Terra Nova date 2112 B.C.]

The war against the Olympians has finally ended. Casualties have been high. No telling what impact this series of events will have on the future of this world. Sasha, Sonya, and their minions have been destroyed. The age of the Grecian "gods" is now over, at least in reality. Mythology may record a quite different story in years to
come. Mount Olympus has erupted, and the majesty of the exiles' domain has ended.

My heart grieves for the loss of my comrades in arms. Both Lorewen and Ashlan have fallen in pursuit of this quest. They gave their lives so that Terra Nova might be free from the reign of such wickedness. I miss them terribly!

Silvanus, my faithful Unicorn steed and friend, has returned to the Glade. Her work is over, for the time being. She has assured me that the Sal'terrans (Vixen included) will thrive in their new mystical habitat, and will enjoy a long and peaceful existence with the other Faerie races here on Terra Nova, at least while humanity is still in its infancy here.

I have traveled far to the north to seek out our allies that assisted us during our fight against the Olympians. They are known as the Valhallans, another group of exiles from the Light Universe who made a home on Terra Nova decades ago. They dwell in a fortress called Asgard, located in the region known as Scandinavia. They are good people, powerful warriors who were once independents far beyond the frontier in the Light Universe. They were of great help during our struggle against the forces of Mount Olympus. I go to seek their assistance once again.

Their leader, Woden, has offered me an unusual opportunity. The Valhallans have, in secret, a space vessel, the last remaining ship which brought them to Terra Nova long ago. It was carefully stowed and kept hidden, for fear of the Olympians who might have wished to take it and leave the planet. The Valhallans have been holding onto it, just in case space travel were ever to become necessary for them again. Woden has given the vessel to me, an opportunity for me to leave Terra Nova if I so desire, and seek my destiny elsewhere in the Dark Zone.

I am of two minds in accepting his offer. Part of me has grown to love this world in the past couple of years since I first arrived in the Azure-Queen. It is a beautiful and largely unspoiled planet. Humankind is so primitive here, and I feel an urge to stay and make my mark upon this fertile soil. But there is an emptiness within me.
The loss of my friends on the Azure-Queen, Lorewen's death in combat, and my inability to join the Sal'terrans in the Glade have all left me with a terrible feeling of loneliness. I suppose that I could remain here, a loner, a wanderer on foreign shores. But what of my desire for companionship? I have known so much loss in the past several years. Could I survive another like Tristan, or Jaden, or Lorewen? Can I allow myself to become attached again to a friend, only to have them taken from me yet again. The price seems too high for me. Perhaps it is best to leave and seek a new life in solitary and peace.

The Valhallans ship is called the Valkyrie. It is not too unlike the couriers that I once flew in what seems like a different life. I have boarded her, saying farewell to my allies, and the little blue planet, and have departed for realms unknown.

***

[excerpt from the Valkyrie's flight log, date uncertain; Arcadia Shazemne recording]

The Valkyrie's internal chronometer has ceased to function. I have lost track of the day, month, even year. It seems to be an eternity. Several other onboard systems have likewise failed. The Valhallans apparently could not have predicted that their vessel would not be able to stand another interstellar voyage!

My nav comp is now useless. As if it would do any good! I have been unable to locate a suitable planet. I am now well past the point of safe return to Terra Nova's solar system. I estimate that the main power drive will go supercritical within just a couple of days. I don't have much time left.

I have rigged a cryo-stasis tube using the onboard life support systems and auxiliary power. I am shutting down the main drive in hopes of conserving energy. In theory, the ship's reserves should be able to keep the cryo-tube operating nearly indefinitely, as long as every other system is shut down and all power is channeled.

This is Arcadia Shazemne, sole occupant of the Valkyrie. To anyone who finds me, and this ship, know that I leave Terra Nova hoping that I have contributed something positive to that brave new world, and hoping to find myself a new place to call home here in the Dark Zone.

***

[over 4,000 years later]

"Little Lexx, I'm hungry!" Stan was saying again. "Can't you whip me up a little something?"

"I'll try, captain," the smaller bug-like ship replied. There was that familiar noise from the food tube, and some greenish-orange goo came squirting out next to Stan.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," Stan said, grumbling. "Like momma, like baby!"

Xev came over and stuck her finger in the mush, bringing it to her mouth, tasting it. "You know, Stanley," she said, pondering over the cuisine, "I think Little Lexx might be a better cook than his parent."

Stan hesitantly tried a morsel. His expression changed slightly, realizing that Xev might indeed have a point.

Little Lexx and his crew, Captain Stan, Xev, and the ever-annoying 790, had been cruising for some time. The rubble that was now Earth, and its decimated solar system, was now far behind them. 790 had been reluctant to assist in any way regarding navigational data. His claim was that he was still in mourning over the loss of Kai. So, Little Lexx was roaming pretty much on his own.

"This isn't too bad, Little Lexx," Stan commented, finishing his small pile of kaleidoscopic pate'. "Got any more?"

"I'm sorry, captain," Little Lexx replied, in his still childish sounding manner. "I'm quite hungry myself. I need to eat soon."

Stan and Xev went over to 790. The Robot Head had not been moved from his place since initially being swallowed up. He was still moaning with sorrow and loss. Every now and then, he would continue his endless poetic ode to the dead assassin. He refused to be moved. Stan couldn't care less. As long as the rusted tin beach ball wasn't pestering him on the bridge, or anywhere else on the ship!

"790, we need some help," Stan said, already anticipating the result.

"Go away, decaying sack of carbon pus!" the Robot Head shouted back. "You too, celestial reptile slut!" he also said to Xev. "Can't you see I'm mourning the loss of my delicious man in black?"

"790, listen to me," Xev exclaimed. "Little Lexx is getting hungry. He needs to find a planet so that he can eat soon. Otherwise, Stan and I won't be able to eat."

"There is a God in this universe after all!" 790 stated sarcastically.

"Look, you demented sphere of scrap iron!" Stan cried, picking up 790 forcefully. "I'm going to give you just one chance to..."

The Robot Head let out a horrendous howl of agony as Stan picked him up. "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

Stan's tirade was interrupted by Little Lexx's innocent chime. "Captain, I see something that looks like food ahead. Can I eat it?"

"Saved by the bug!" Stan snorted at 790, tossing him aside with a clang. He and Xev rushed to the bridge.

"Show me what you've got, Little Lexx!" Stan said, taking his position in his new captain's seat.

Little Lexx's screen flickered, revealing the dark cosmos ahead, but with a single, drifting space ship floating nearby, just within reach of Little Lexx's giant maw.

"It looks like it might be quite tasty," the bug-ship said. "Can I eat it, captain?"

Stan looked over at Xev. She shrugged. "Little Lexx DOES need to eat, captain!" she said, smiling.

"Wait, just a second," Stan said. He looked at the drifting vessel. The design seemed familiar to him.

"Little Lexx, are there any life sign aboard that ship?" he asked.

"What are 'life signs,' captain?" the bug asked in return.

"You know," Stan explained. "Life signs, like me."

"You are my captain," Little Lexx replied. "You are not a life sign."

Stan sighed. Xev walked over to him. "Remember, Stan," she said. "He's still just a baby."

"What I mean is," Stan continued, a little frustrated, "is there anything aboard that ship that is ALIVE, like me?!"

Little Lexx was silent for a moment. "There is somebody aboard the floating snack," he said, "but I do not think that she is like you, captain."

"She?" Stan inquired, his ears perking up.

"Oh, no!" Xev exclaimed. "Little Lexx, just eat the damn thing!" she shouted.

Of course, the bug did not respond. Stan seemed to be thinking about this situation.

"Hold off on the snack for a bit, Little Buddy," Stan ordered. He hopped down off the captain's seat, and started for the corridor.

"Hold it!" Xev said, loudly. "Just where do you think you're going?"

"Well, you heard the bug," Stan explained. "There's somebody aboard. I'm going to take a look at it."

"You mean take a look at HER!" Xev exclaimed. "You never change, do you, Stanley?"

Stan shrugged, and continued walking. Xev followed.

"Well, I'm going with you at least!" she stated. "Someone's got to keep an eye on you."

The two of them got in one of Little Lexx's fledgling moths, and took off towards the mysterious vessel.

***

Stan and Xev flew on over to the drifting ship. There were no obvious signs of functioning life support, or any power for that matter. They both donned masks and went aboard.

It was a small, dark craft, a courier. Stan could see that it resembled models used by independents and some of the Reform planets from the Light Universe.

"What's a ship like this doing here?" he asked.

"Maybe it got here the same way we did," Xev speculated.

They searched the vessel, eventually finding the small cargo area near aft, with the cryo-pod inside. Stan backed off immediately.

"Xev, we should get out of here, NOW!" he exclaimed, breathing heavily with anxiety.

"Just a minute, Stanley," she replied, her cluster-lizard curiosity streak going into overdrive. Xev carefully approached the pod. It wasn't very much like Kai's had been, something far more crude. And it obviously did NOT have a divine assassin inside!

Both Stan and Xev peered carefully through the mist and frozen debris at the pod's occupant. It was a female, quite attractive even in stasis. Though dampened from the cryo-conditioning, her hair was dark brown. She was a tall, slender, but muscular woman, most of her body exposed, and wearing only what appeared to be a bustenhalt and loin cloth made of leather and... fur? It was difficult to see. Although her eyes were closed, Stan saw something vaguely familiar in her features.

"What do you think, Stanley?" Xev asked, looking at the nervous captain.

"Uh, well, I don't know, Xev," he responded. He circled the pod a couple of times, acting like a pensive man trying to make a decision. But quite honestly, he didn't know what the hell to think, or do!

"I think we should get her on board and thaw her out," Xev offered.

"D-D-Do you think that's such a good idea?" Stan inquired, stuttering. The idea of bringing yet ANOTHER stranger aboard the Lexx terrified him. Their previous experience, after all, had not been too good in this area!

"Well, she's going to just drift here forever if we don't do SOMETHING!" Xev stated. "Besides, I would think that the idea of having another female on board would be quite exciting to you, Stan!"

"Pssh! Yeah, whatever," Stanley replied, trying to disguise the fact that this mysterious woman was quite captivating to him, and that numerous scenarios were running through his sex-starved brain at that very moment.

"So..." Xev began, trying to incite Stan to make a move.

"All right!" he finally said, giving in. "Let's get her on board and see what we got here."

***

An hour later, Stan and Xev were back on Little Lexx with the pod. 790 was watching them in the galley, pretending not to be in the slightest way interested. Stan was having some difficulty with the pod's mechanism.

"What's wrong?" Xev asked. "I thought you were qualified to do stuff like this."

"It's not like standard cryo-pods," Stan replied, shaking his head. "There's something really weird about the controls. I just can't seem to get it to do anything!"

"No surprise there!" 790 broke in from the galley.

Stan spun around. "I thought YOU couldn't care less!" he shouted over to the Robot Head.

"Yawn!" 790 responded, sarcastically.

"Here, let me try," Xev said, walking over to the unit and gently pushing Stan aside.

"Wait!" he protested. "You don't know the first thing about cryo-pods!"

"I've watched you and 790 enough on Kai's," she said. "Besides, cluster lizards can be quite innovative when they have to!"

She placed her palm over the mechanism, and gave it a sharp "thud!" The lights blinked randomly for a moment, then stopped, as the pod hissed and the hatch slowly opened.

At first, nothing happened. Stan and Xev were motionless. Then, the woman inside twitched slightly. She coughed, spurting out some cryo-fluid, then heaved, as her lungs obiously began taking in the new air. Doubling over, she fell out of the upright pod and onto the deck.

Xev rushed to her side. The woman was freezing cold, and wet almost everywhere on her body. Xev grabbed the blanket that she had prepared, and wrapped the woman up. By now, she was breathing more steadily, but trembling and apparently getting over a state of shock from a sudden cryo-withdrawal. She opened her eyes and looked up at Xev. They were a beautiful pale shade of green.

"Where... where am I?" the woman asked, sputtering and gasping with each word.

While Xev continued to hold her in her arms close to the deck, Stan cautiously approached. The woman WAS familiar, and although her clothing was unusual, and although she was not looking her best at the moment, Stan was able to recognize her after a minute or two.

"Arcadia?" he asked, in disbelief. It had to be! He couldn't explain how, but somehow, there she was, lying on the floor of Little Lexx, in the Dark Zone, in a time far removed from when he had last seen the Ostral-B heretic, Master Flight Serjeant Arcadia Shazemne!

Arcadia looked up at Stan, as he knelt down next to her. With what little strength she had, the half-frozen heretic widened her eyes in amazement at the Little Lexx's captain. She began shaking her head slightly.

"I must be dead," she muttered, then slumped in Xev's arms, unconscious.

Xev looked at Stan as well, with a wondering gaze in her eye Stan straightened up, sighing.

"We better get her cleaned up," he said, as he helped Xev carry Arcadia towards the showers.

***

Xev got to work giving Arcadia a bath. Though a fine specimen of female physical perfection herself, she couldn't help but admire the heretic's stunning physique. Arcadia was slightly taller than Xev, with beautiful muscle tone and very sexy feminine curves. Xev wasn't exactly jealous, but definitely intrigued. She wondered just how much of a workout Arcadia could give her cluster lizard strength. She surprised herself by realizing that she looked forward to an opportunity to test it!

The shower seemed to perk Arcadia up quite a bit. Xev helped her over to her bed, and assisted in getting her dressed. She examined the crude but revealing garments.

"What are these made of?" she asked the heretic, holding up the bustenhalt. Arcadia took it from her and put it on her torso, covering her breasts.

"Leather and fur," she replied, still a little dazed. She stood up weakly. "From an animal native to Terra Nova called a wolf."

"Terra Nova?" Xev asked. "Where's that?"

Arcadia shook her head, sighing. "Look, I really appreciate you helping me and all, but I need to speak to Tweedle," she stated. "Can you take me to him?"

"Sure," Xev answered, nonchalantly. She led the way to the bridge.

Stan got down from the chair as the two women approached. He looked at Arcadia, still amazed.

"Assistant Deputy Back-Up Courier Stanley Tweedle!" she exclaimed. "I barely believe it with my own eyes!"

"I guess it's good to see you, Arcadia," Stan responded, really not knowing what to say.

"You guess, huh?" she said, smiling. "Well, I GUESS understand the circumstances, that's a pretty good welcome speech!"

"All right," Stan finally said, "let's just get down to it! How the HELL did you get here?"

It took Arcadia a long time to tell her story. She explained all about Morningside, the DawnQuest, being stranded on Calashadir, hijacking the Azure-Queen, ending up in the Dark Zone, her encounter with the Sal'terrans, and finally the events that happened on Earth, which brought her to the present.

"So, just how long was I in cryo-stasis?" Arcadia asked.

"Well, based on what you just told us," Stan replied, "I'd say over 4,000 years. About the same time we drifted before ending up in orbit around Fire and Water."

"Fire and what?" Arcadia asked. "Drifted for 4,000 years?"

Stan and Xev gave the best rendition they could of their long tale. They started at the beginning, on the Cluster. They talked about Kai, and about all their adventures leading up to the destruction of the Earth and their new journey on Little Lexx.

Arcadia listened, in awe. So many pieces started falling together for her. It WAS the Lexx after all that she had encountered drifting while on the Azure-Queen. And that divine assassin... Kai, of course! Their Robot Head... the same as they saw that day on the bridge. And the two humans in the other pods... Stan and Xev! Terra Nova, the planet that Arcadia had nearly made her home millennia ago, gone. It was clear now that this world was indeed the same "Earth" that Stan
and Xev kept referring to! Stan was old school, of course. Arcadia knew his history prior to his days as captain of the Lexx. And Xev? She said that she was originally from B3K, and had been transformed into a love slave before their adventures began. Could this be the same Xev that Arcadia had briefly met in that box in the cargo bay so long ago? She certainly didn't look like that little girl. Of course, the love slave transformation could REALLY change a person!

"So, Terra Nova... I mean, Earth, is really gone then," Arcadia stated, with a hint of sadness.

"I'm afraid so," Xev said, a degree of sympathy in her voice. She couldn't help but connect those events with the loss of Kai!

"Yeah, well no great loss," Stan exclaimed. "I mean, it was a type 13 planet and all. Not a very nice one either!"

Arcadia looked at Stan angrily. "There happened to be some very good people on that planet at one point, Tweedle!" she said. "I lost some dear friends when I made the choice to stay and fight for a worthy cause. And I lost even more when I decided to leave after the fighting was over, and after they... after SHE, was dead!"

Xev went over to Arcadia. "Look, I don't think Stanley meant..." she started to say.

"It's okay," Arcadia stated, shrugging it off. "It's all in the past now." She sighed to herself, seeming to look off into the vast distance of space. "I wonder what ever became of them... all of them. The Valhallans, The Sal'terrans, Silvanus, Oberon..."

"Oberon?!" Xev gasped. "You mean, you actually KNEW him? And Titania, and PUCK?!"

"Yeah," Arcadia replied. "So what? They were some of the nicest faeries I ever met."

"Fairies is right!" Stan stated.

Arcadia looked at him, puzzled, but just shrugged. She was feeling tired.

"Look, I'm going to lie down for a while, okay?" She started off the bridge, but turned around as if she nearly forgot something.

"Oh, by the way, did you find my sword?" she asked.

"Your what?" Stan inquired.

"My sabre," Arcadia repeated, clarifying. "I hid it beneath the cryo-pod, in a secret compartment. Did you recover it?"

Stan and Xev looked at one another, shaking their heads. Curious, they followed Arcadia to her pod.

They watched as she opened a panel beneath the pod, and withdrew a brilliant, finely-crafted blade. Arcadia wielded it, smiling, as if relieved to have some vital component of her person restored to her once again.

"What is THAT?" Stan asked. He had seen blades used in melee combat before, but never something like what Arcadia was holding!

"This was a gift to me from a friend on Earth, long ago," Arcadia explained. "It saved my life many a time during my battles with the Olympians."

"You mean, you know how to fight with that?" Xev asked, impressed.

"Absolutely," the heretic replied, giving a brief demonstration of her prowess by swishing the sword through the air in blindingly swift and powerful maneuvers. "A girl's got to defend herself somehow!"

"Can I hold it?" Xev asked. Arcadia nodded, and gently handed her the blade. Xev could sense that there was something special about this sword.

"Could you teach me some of your moves?" she asked again, handing it back after a few seconds.

"Sure," Arcadia replied. "It took me a couple of years to get the hang of it, but I'll bet you're a quick learner!"

She said goodnight to Stan and Xev and retired to her bed. It had been an exhausting day! As she lay on the comfortable mattress, thinking and remembering, Arcadia wondered about her current situation. Stan and Xev were exiles like herself, misfits from another time, another universe. Perhaps she had come as far as she
needed!

***

Arcadia and Xev were doing aerobics in the heretic's quarters. Well, not exactly. Arcadia was demonstrating a series of combat training exercises, something of a cross between her drills on Ostral-B, and the martial arts that she had picked up on Earth. Xev was learning quickly. The love slave's strength and stamina had surprised Arcadia! 790 was around the corner, pretending to ignore them.

Stan came in unexpectedly. At first he didn't say a thing, merely admiring the two women doing rigorous and athletic moves with their beautiful bodies. Xev noticed him staring.

"What do you want, Stanley?" she asked, stopping mid-movement.

"Oh, nothing really," Stan replied, smiling. "I just wanted to see if Arcadia was busy."

"Well, WE are!" Xev exclaimed, getting back to the exercises.

"You can join us if you want, Stan," Arcadia offered.

As much as the prospect of working out on a mat excited the captain, he shook his head.

"I think I'm content with the spectator sport aspect of it," he said.

Arcadia shrugged and continued. She and Xev began doing a series of movements resembling Tai-Chi.

"Anything else, Stanley?" Xev asked, a little annoyed.

"Well, Little Lexx has informed me that Arcadia's ship proved to be a nutritious snack, although not terribly tasty," he replied.

"What!?" Arcadia exclaimed, stopping. "You mean Little Lexx ate the Valkyrie?"

"Well, yeah," Stan explained. "I mean, that's what he does. Eats things, you know. It's his fuel source."

Arcadia sighed. "Well, so much for my repair plans!" she muttered, taking a seat on the side of her bed.

Xev came over and sat down next to her. "You were planning on leaving us?" she asked, disappointed.

"I suppose it's past tense now," Arcadia replied. "I was thinking about making repairs here on board, and then taking the Valkyrie and being on my way, until..." she looked at Stan, shaking her head.

"I was hoping... I mean, WE were hoping that you'd want to stay with us," Xev said. She looked at Stan for affirmation.

"Uh, yeah, right!" Stan blurted out, getting the cue. "I mean, with just the two of us and all..."

"And the Robot Head!" 790 shouted, interrupting, from around the corner.

"... As I was saying," Stan continued, giving 790 a nasty look, "with just me and Xev, it would sure me nice to have another crewmember, especially with you, being, well..."

"Well, WHAT, Stan?" Arcadia demanded, standing up and approaching the captain.

"Well... you know!" he said. "Someone who's multi-skilled, a good fighter, I mean, hey, you were a heretic at one point! And besides, Arcadia, you're..." He stumbled on the right word.

"A slutty Amazon that Tweedle wants to savor between meals!" 790 broke in.

"All right, THAT'S IT!" Stan rushed on over to the Robot Head, picking 790 up forcefully. With a few quick strides, he ran over to the nearest ledge, and threw the unit over the edge to the depths below.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" 790 howled, then went silent, as he smashed into the bowels below, his casing split and his innards
sprawled everywhere.

"Finally!" Stan shouted. "HaHa! Stanley Tweedle gets the last word!"

He walked back over to Arcadia. The heretic was smiling, amused.

"Anyway, Arcadia, as I was saying..."

"It's okay, Stan," she said. "I understand what you're saying. I appreciate you wanting me to stay." She turned to Xev. "Both of you. I guess I don't really have a choice now, but I think I'm going to like it here on Little Lexx, at least for a while."

Xev smiled, relieved. She reached over and took the two titanium dowels that she had retrieved from the Valkyrie before it became lunch.

"Hey, would you show me how to duel?" Xev asked Arcadia, handing her a dowel.

Smiling, Arcadia took the rod, and began instructing Xev in swordfighting.

***

Arcadia awoke in the middle of the night. The ship was deathly quiet. Carefully, she got out of bed. Taking her sword and scabbard, and strapping it to her back, she began walking through the ship, exploring. Better safe than sorry, she thought.

She made her way to the lower aft region of the Little Lexx, discovering a "shuttle bay" (if you could call it that), with a couple of moths. She remembered her initial encounter with the original Lexx, and the moth that she flew then. It seemed to handle just the same, and she hopped in, maneuvering it with ease.

Arcadia flew through a significant portion of the bug-like vessel. It was quite similar to the original, though smaller. She looked down towards the bowels, and noticed something shiny glittering below. She changed heading and swooped down to land.

The heretic saw the source of the gleam. It was the dismantled Robot Head! 790 was laying on the ground, shattered and not functioning. Curious, Arcadia exited the moth and went to check it out.

She had some degree of expertise with this type of technology. It had been a long time, but Arcadia began collecting 790's components in an attempt to reassemble the Robot Head. She then took herself and the pieces back into the moth, and returned to her quarters.

It was much later that night when Arcadia got close to completion. 790's small piece of human brain tissue was fortunately undamaged. His memory and higher cognitive functions were intact, and ready to be reset. She double-checked his internal power cell. Fully operational. She held her breath, and switched him on.

His eyes glimmered and glowed, and a slur of noise came from his mouth. The eye-screen cleared, as the reset Robot head looked at Arcadia in adoration.

"I will love you forever!" 790 said.

***

Things on the Noah were starting to get out of hand! Ex-President Priest had been letting his eyes and hands wander far too much, Ex-First Lady Bunny thought. They had been cruising for a long time, but who knew their destination? It seemed as if Prince was calling the shots on board, but where was that evil man? He had
just "disappeared" some weeks ago, and had not returned.

"Mr. President!" Bunny called to her husband. Priest immediately removed himself from an incriminating position alongside one of the gorgeous blond models on board, as his wife walked in.

"Yes, Bunny, my dear!" he responded cheerfully.

"Mr. President, I'm worried!" she cried in her typical ditsy fashion. "We've been out here for a long time. When are we going to find a new home?"

"Now, now, my dear," Priest replied, trying to sooth her. "I'm sure that Prince has everything under control."

"Ooh, I don't like it one bit!" Bunny complained. "Where is Prince? I think he probably just abandoned us and is off laughing somewhere!"

"Sssh!" Priest exclaimed, putting his hand on Bunny's mouth. "You mustn't say things like that! He's liable to hear!"

"Hear?!" Bunny shrieked. "Hear what?! He isn't HERE to HEAR anything!"

Just then, there was the familiar burst of light as Prince suddenly appeared on deck.

"Always remember the Good Book, my dear First Lady," the evil one said. "Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have believed."

"The Good Book?" Bunny asked, confused. "Oh, you mean 'Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus?' That's not in there!"

Priest attended immediately, taking Prince's hand and kissing it. "Oh, my Prince!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, yes," Prince said, taking back his hand, and wiping it on his other sleeve. "I see that our incompetence is running rampant as usual."

"May I ask his Prince why you've come to visit us?" Priest inquired, humbly.

"Why?" Prince sneered. "Are you not happy to see me?"

"Oh, yes, my Prince, yes!" Priest cried, fawning over him like a puppy.

Prince just looked at him, annoyed. "Enough!" he said. Then, taking a couple of steps, he turned to face both Priest and Bunny. "Actually, there's a very good reason for my visit," he explained. "We have a potential problem on our hands!"

***

"You did WHAT?!" Stan shrieked.

He had awoke and come up to the Little Lexx's bridge, only to find Arcadia seated cross-legged next to the helm, with 790 in front of her. The Robot Head was offering up poems and praises in honor of the heretic's beauty, physical prowess, sensual features, and so on. Arcadia felt obligated to explain.

"I can't BELIEVE you!" Stan shouted. "Just when I thought my problems with that blasted trash compactor were over..."

"I'm sorry, Stan!" Arcadia exclaimed. "I honestly thought that putting him back together would be a good idea. I mean, how else do you plan to navigate? Although, I didn't bargain for THIS!"

"My only course is already charted and laid in," 790 sang sweetly to Arcadia. "Between your delicious thighs!"

Stan chuckled slightly. "I guess what goes around, comes around, huh?"

Xev came on the bridge. "Good morning," she said. She saw the Robot Head. "790?" she exclaimed, surprised. Her eyes opened wider. "Arcadia?!"

"Back off, lizard bitch!" 790 hissed. "The Amazon Sex Machine is MINE!"

Stan explained what happened. Xev just stared in disbelief, then erupted in laughter. She ended up rolling on the deck in delight, nearly splitting at the seams with delirium.

"Well, I'm glad that I can provide some amusement at least," Arcadia commented. Shaking her head, she stood up, and taking 790 with her, walked away.

Xev was still trying to get ahold of herself. Tears of laughter were streaming down her face. Stan was more irritated than amused.

"Laugh it up, will you?" he said, then walked off himself, leaving Xev on the bridge giggling uncontrollably.

***

Though not one to spurn praise, Arcadia was getting rather tired of 790's incessant odes and sonnets. The Robot Head had this annoying habit of being unriddable, as the heretic found out. Xev sympathized, but couldn't help but be amused at the situation! And poor Stan seemed to be living in a nightmare!

"Why won't you let me get inside of you to correct this apparent malfunction?" Arcadia asked 790 again. "Isn't it obvious that you can't love me?"

"Actually, it's the other way around, my stunning mountain of Amazon delight," the Robot Head replied. "Why won't you let me get inside of YOU?"

Arcadia sighed. Apparently, 790 had burnt out his own reset circuits. Even if she smashed his casing a million times, the procedure would be in vain. Destroying the thing seemed such a waste!

"Very well," Arcadia said, "if you really DO love me, then help Stan with the navigational data!"

790 whined. "Do I have to?"

"What's the problem?" she asked again. "Why don't you like Stanley?"

"Isn't it obvious?" the Robot Head growled. "The man's an incompetent moron! Besides, he wants to give you what only a lust-filled Robot Head should be allowed to give you!"

Arcadia shook her head, pathetically. There seemed no end in sight! How did Xev ever endure it, she wondered?

"I wouldn't worry about Stan," Arcadia assured 790, smirking. "He wouldn't know where to start with me! Now, off we go to the bridge, where YOU are going to help our captain find a new home!"

She picked up the Robot Head, and started walking, 790 cursing and complaining with every step.

***

"You need to set a new course," Prince explained to Priest. "Dr. Longbore's original calculations are no longer a viable option."

"But why, my Prince?" Priest asked, fearfully. He was more terrified of trying to work the navigational controls of the Noah than anything else at this moment.

"Did I open this for discussion?" Prince exclaimed, angrily. Priest quickly cowered in submission.

Lowering his voice, Prince continued. "Unfortunately, the system that Longbore had initially set course for is no longer able to sustain life. The same beings that attacked the Earth laid waste to your original destination some time ago. That is why I've been away, to find you a new destination."

"But where will we go?" Bunny complained. "And how will we change our direction to get there?"

Prince looked over at the timid Priest. His eyes narrowed in disgust. "No, I suppose not," he said. He looked at Bunny. "Madam First Lady," he began, "time to go back to school!"

"School?" Bunny cried, obviously upset. "I hated school! Why do I have to go back? I mean, there was this really awful English teacher named Mrs. Fartsworth, who made us learn all these useless nouns and verbs and stuff. And then there were all the stupid ugly Freshmen boys who were always trying to get a look at my cleavage, whenever I leaned over to pick up the things I dropped. Of course, cheerleading was fun... Hey! I remember this one time when..."

Prince sighed, closing his eyes, trying to force patience into his mind. It was going to be a LONG tutorial!

***

Stan had Arcadia place 790 at his station next to Little Lexx's viewscreen.

"Little Lexx? Say hello to Arcadia," Stan ordered. "She's part of our crew now."

"Hello, Arcadia," Little Lexx replied.

"Okay," Stan exclaimed, "let's get busy."

"790?" Arcadia said, cueing the Robot Head.

"As you wish, my Princess of Passion," he replied, reluctantly, beginning a systematic scan of nearby star systems.

"This will probably take a while," Stan commented. "You want me to show you more of the ship?"

Arcadia nodded, and started following Stan off the bridge, towards one of the moths.

"Don't leave me!" 790 protested.

"I'll be back in a while to check on your progress," Arcadia assured him.

"Tweedle, you better not make any progress yourself with my Goddess of Love!" the Robot Head barked.

Stan laughed. "Yeah, as if YOU could do any better!"

The captain and Arcadia started their tour as 790 fumed and fussed, diligently carrying out his tedious task.

***

Xev was passing by Arcadia's quarters when she thought she heard something. She peeked in. Nobody was there. She was about to continue down the corridor when she thought she heard it again. It sounded a little like soft, distant singing. She went back to the doorway and slowly entered.

Arcadia's sword was laying on her bed, unsheathed at the moment. Arcadia had been in the middle of cleaning it, it seemed. The sword was glowing slightly, with a soft emerald radiance, and there was a gentle melody being "sung" from it!

Xev was amazed. She quietly approached the bed. The sword was still glowing and singing. She didn't recognize the language. She drew even closer, now standing over the marvellous blade. Intrigued, she reached out to touch the hilt.

"I'd ask permission if I were you," a deep male voice said. The singing had stopped.

Xev looked around, startled. She was still alone. She looked down at the bed. The sword? No, it couldn't be!

She shook her head, and reached for the weapon again.

"I'm serious," the voice said again. "I see that you're a person of good heart, and possibly worthy to wield me, but I'm bonded to another. My mistress must first hand me to you if I am to allow you to touch me." The soft green glow had changed to a brighter, more radiant gleam.

Xev quickly withdrew her hand. How could it be? It was only a piece of metal! Then again, so was 790!

"Is that you?" Xev asked in a whisper, somewhat embarrased to be talking to a sword.

"Yes," the sword replied. "I only gave you a warning because my mistress has allowed you to handle me before. I saw in your heart that you are of good character. I have no wish to harm you. However, my design is immutable. I cannot allow you to pick me up without permission."

"It's okay," Arcadia said from the doorway, walking into the room. She went over to the bed, and picked up the sword. With care and delicacy, she handed it over to the awe-struck Xev.

"I see you've met my friend in arms," Arcadia commented, observing Xev's amazement. The sword continued to glow its soft emerald green, as Xev slowly examined the unusual, magical weapon.

"You could say that... I guess!" Xev exclaimed, still staring with awe at the beautifully crafted blade.

Arcadia chuckled with amusement, and took back the sword, wiping it once with a cloth, and placing it back in its scabbard. She walked back over to Xev, putting her hand on her shoulder.

"I think it's time we had a little girl talk!" she stated.

***

Arcadia walked onto the bridge, sword in scabbard. She had spent the past two hours working out with Xev. The Love Slave had made it clear to Arcadia from the beginning that she had absolutely no need whatsoever to exercise, having a perfectly transformed body and all. She just found it to be fun and entertaining! Actually, Xev was getting quite good at sword-fighting, Arcadia noted with delight. Her star pupil would soon be ready for some serious trials, were the
oppotunity ever to present itself.

"Any luck, 790?" she asked the stationary, and blissfully bored Robot Head.

"The only luck I desire is the kind found underneath your loin cloth!" He eyed her lower torso.

"Seriously," Arcadia exclaimed. "Have you found a habitable planet yet?"

"Not yet, O muscular muffin of man's desire!" 790 chimed.

"Well, keep searching," she stated. Leaving her sheathed sword next to the helm, Arcadia made a quick detour to the toilets. She REALLY wished that Little Lexx had a less icky method of cleaning oneself afterwards!

790 sighed, watching Arcadia disappear around the corner towards the head. He glanced down at the sword.

"For a piece of metal that's supposed to be intelligent, you don't say much, do you?" the Robot Head exclaimed, talking to the magical sabre.

"I speak when something needs to be said," the sword replied, "unlike other non-organic units around here."

"For your information, Rusty," 790 said, bitterly, "I AM partially organic! I have a small piece of human brain tissue inside of me which enables ME to love my woman with unending passion, UNLIKE other NON-ORGANIC tin-pointed sticks around here."

"Well, for your information," the sword commented with slight mockery, "I contain the essence of a human, a famous warrior who lived long ago. As his body lay dying, a sorceror who cared for him granted his final wish to be immortal. She placed his 'soul,' if you will, into this sword, bestowing it with magical powers and abilities which I doubt you would understand. I am capable of any emotion that a living man is capable of, including love. And, unlike you, my love and devotion for my mistress is pure and virtuous! Furthermore, I am NOT made of tin!"

"Well, la-dee-da!" 790 said, sarcastically. "Essence, shmessence! I'm wired for hot, steamy robot love, Rusty! You're just jealous because you don't got the juice!"

"Query," the sword asked. "Regarding equipment, just who around here is the long, hard, thrusting one, anyway? And stop calling me Rusty! Do you see one speck of rust on my blade? I have a name."

"Could it be, 'Skinny'?" 790 laughed. "No, wait! I know, 'Flimsy-hilt,' right?"

"You wouldn't even recognize the language!" the sword scoffed, haughtily. "But as for a close translation, you can call me 'Starburst'.'

"How quaint!" 790 exclaimed, patronizingly.

Something on the screen bleeped. Little Lexx's scanners focused in on a distant point.

"Something of interest?" the sword inquired.

"Stay out of it!" 790 barked, adjusting the visual. A planet came into view.

Arcadia came running out of the head, having heard the sound. She picked up Starburst and re-positioned the scabbard on her back. She called for Stan and Xev immediately.

"What do you got, 790?" Xev asked.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm," the Robot Head hummed, annoyingly.

"Answer her!" Arcadia said, somewhat forcefully.

"A planet," 790 replied, sounding disinterested.

"So?" Stan demanded. "Is it habitable? Can we set course for it?"

"YOU can set course for a Cluster Lizard's ass, for all I care!" 790 responded. "My Amazon Queen and I are already on course for virtual ecstacy!"

Arcadia picked up 790, and with the motion of a bowler, rolled him off the bridge towards the head from which she had come.

"Don't send me away!" 790 cried, his voice echoing down the corridor. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO...!"

Arcadia sighed, shaking her head. "Starburst," she said, speaking to her sword, "what did you hear?"

"The ship's scanners have detected a habitable planet, My Lady," Starburst replied. "I heard 790 confirm the coordinates."

Stan stood bug-eyed upon hearing the sword speak. This was his first time.

"W-W-What... who said that?" he asked, dumbfounded.

"It was my sword, Stanley," Arcadia replied, "Starburst, say hello to captain Stan."

"Greetings, captain," the sword said.

Stan just shook his head in amazement. "So," he muttered, "we have a talking ship, a talking piece of crap, and now a talking SWORD? This is just... just GREAT!" He walked on over to the helm, taking his seat, and placing his hand on the template. The key lit up.

"Little Lexx," he called out, "do you have a fix on the coordinates of that planet?"

"Yes, I do, Stan," Little Lexx replied in his usual tone.

"Well, let's go then!" Stan ordered.

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

He got down from the seat, and approached Arcadia, gazing intently at
her.

"You are one piece of work, you know that?" Stan said.

"I do my best," Arcadia replied, smiling. Stan walked off towards his quarters, as she and Xev exchanged mischievous glances, and started laughing together.

***

"Uh, Mr. President?" Bunny called, tentatively. "I think I've got it now."

Priest walked over to where the First Lady had just completed a course correction on the Noah's nav comp, according to Prince's instruction... hopefully.

"Did I get it right?" she asked.

"I'm afraid I can't tell, Bunnykins," Priest replied. "Oh, how I wish Prince would return soon!"

The air glimmered around them, as Prince appeared from his usual nothingness. "You rang?" he said, slyly.

"Good news, my Prince!" Priest exclaimed, blubbering over the Evil One. "I think that Bunny has re-set the ship's coordinates, or whatever."

Prince inspected the console. "Very good," he stated. "I'm so pleased that there are indeed TWO things that you are skilled at, madam."

"What's the other one?" Bunny asked, naively.

Glaring at her with a sense of pity and forced patience, Prince sighed and turned back to the President. "So," he said, cheerfully. "We're on our way."

"To where, my Prince?" Priest inquired.

"Oh, just a little planet that I've scouted out in my spare time," the Evil One replied. "It seems that since leaving Earth and its annoying confinements, I find myself to have much more of it lately. Well, I must be off. Cheery bye!" He vanished again.

"I really don't like it when he does that!" Bunny whined.

***

Arcadia was seated on her bed, giving Starburst a polish. Xev was seated next to her, watching.

"You really do take good care of your sword," she said, admiring Arcadia's precision and delicacy.

"It's taken good care of me," Arcadia replied. She finished her work, and replaced the blade in its scabbard. Starburst had been silent throughout the procedure.

Arcadia lay down, sprawled out across the bed, resting. Xev slowly slid next to her, laying inversely, propping herself up with one arm and shoulder.

"Have you had much experience with men?" Xev asked, just out of the blue.

Arcadia looked up at her, surprised. "Wow," she said. "Where did that one come from?"

Xev blushed slightly. "I didn't mean to embarrass you," she stated.

"No, it's all right," Arcadia replied. "What do you want to know exactly?"

"Just what I said," she explained. "Have you done it a lot?"

"I've had a decent share of encounters," Arcadia said. "I was raised for a while in a Girl's Home on Ostral-B. The only sex I had there was forced upon me by one of the male supervisors. There was that one time on the Celes Pleasure Transport." Arcadia smiled at the memory. "Now THAT was a pleasure!" She laughed, thinking back.

"Of course, the last man I made love to because I actually loved him was Jaden Knight," she continued. "He was a ship's captain, and a damn sexy one at that! We only did it once." She stopped, reflecting back on thoughts and feelings that she had not allowed herself to re-live for a long time. "On Earth, the only man I really got to know was Brother Ashlan. But he was just a friend. We were never intimate."

"What about women?" Xev asked again, a different tone in her voice, less information-seeking and more longing.

"Women?" Arcadia asked, a little shocked. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just curious," Xev replied, but the Love Slave was clearly running scenarios in her mind!

"Well," Arcadia said, shifting her position to look more directly at Xev, "there was only one occassion when I participated in lesbian love, and that was on Williams' Utopia. It wasn't voluntary. I was forced to have sex with a group of women like myself who were being held as slaves for entertainment purposes."

"Really?!" Xev exclaimed, obviously excited by the idea. "What was it like?"

"Well, I tried to resist at first, obviously," Arcadia explained, "but found that it was... why are you so interested anyway?"

"I'm not well-versed in the ways of love," Xev replied sheepishly. "I'm just curious about your experiences, that's all."

"But I thought that you were once a Love Slave," Arcadia said, puzzled. "I would think that YOU'D be the one with all the stories, not me!"

Xev shook her head. Arcadia stared in amazement.

"You mean...?" Arcadia was floored. How could such a sensuous creature not...

Xev moved closer to Arcadia on the bed. Her movements suggested something far beyond mere curiosity!

"You've been a really good teacher so far, Arcadia," Xev said, softly. She slowly ran her fingers along Arcadia's strong but feminine thigh. "I was hoping that you could, perhaps... teach me in other things as well."

Arcadia could feel her body tingling at Xev's gentle touch. There was something so appealing, so incredibly sensational about this woman! A part of her wanted to give in to what she desired in her heart. There was another part holding back, afraid. Xev helped ease the dilemma by moving up closer to Arcadia's face, and placing her hand on her cheek. She moved her lips closer to Arcadia's willing mouth. Arcadia could feel the soft, warm breath. Xev slid her arm around Arcadia's
muscular back, pulling her into an embrace, as her lips gently touched Arcadia's, and...

"Ewwww!" Stan cried from the doorway. He walked in to see the two women on the bed, in preparation of the obvious. Arcadia and Xev pulled apart from each other instantly, startled.

"What IS it with you?" he said to Xev. "Why is it that you'll throw yourself at every dame that comes aboard, beautiful or not, but you can't so much as manage a quicky with your red-blooded all-man captain Stan?!"

"Sorry, Stan," Arcadia said, getting up from the bed. "I better get going." She picked up Starburst and headed out into the corridor.

Stan just looked at Xev, glaring.

"What?" Xev inquired, with that innocent look about her. "WHAT?!"

"Oh... never mind!" Stan grunted, fuming in frustration as he left Xev alone in Arcadia's bed. It just wasn't fair! Two gorgeous women right under his nose, and they were all over EACH OTHER! Just his luck! Of course, if Stan were to be invited in as a threesome...

***

Little Lexx settled into orbit around the planet. Stan, Xev, Arcadia, and 790 were all on the bridge.

"We're here... finally!" Stan exclaimed.

"Joy times infinity Moron!" 790 stated sarcastically.

Little Lexx made a single orbit before calling attention to the object approaching the planet from the far side. It zoomed in on its viewscreen, showing another vessel.

"Oh, no!" Xev cried. "That's the Noah!"

It was true. Longbore's ship was attaining a lateral orbit around the planet. Stan jumped up from his seat.

"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed. "Little Lexx, can you tell if there are any life forms on that ship?"

"Life forms like you, Stan?" the ship asked sweetly.

"Yes, Little Lexx!" Stan affirmed, impatiently.

"There is only one life-form on board like you, captain," Little Lexx replied. "All the others are different."

"What does that mean?" Arcadia asked.

The viewscreen went to static for a moment, as a new image appeared, a transmission from the Noah. It showed Priest, Bunny, and...

"Prince!" Stan shouted. "Of all the...!"

"Well, well," Prince said, laughing. "Our intrepid friends from the Lexx, minus one undead assassin, of course!"

"Prince, what are you doing here?" Xev demanded, angrily.

"I've taken an interest in a colonizing venture," the Evil One replied. "The flood has receded, and Noah has been brought to a safe haven!"

"Prince, this planet's not big enough for the both of us!" Stan said. "Now, you and your little bunch better leave orbit and find some other planet to wreak havoc on. This one's ours!"

"Hi, Stan! Hi, Xev!" Bunny waved from behind Prince on screen. Priest tried to hush her and pull her back.

"Now, Stan," Prince said, with mock gentleness. "Are we still holding a grudge? All's well that ends well, wasn't it?"

"We're NOT about to put up with you and your tricks again!" Xev warned.

"What, Xev?" Prince said, pretending to be hurt. "You don't miss our little romantic encounters?"

Xev let loose a soft, but menacing, lizard growl towards the screen. Arcadia was startled.

"Who is this guy?" Arcadia whispered to Stan.

"It's too long a story to tell in one sitting," Stan replied. He looked back at the screen. "And we're NOT repeating it!"

"We shall see," Prince said, nonchalantly. "Au revoir!" The screen went black.

Stan and Xev just looked at each other with that old, familiar gaze.

"Who is this 'Prince', anyway?" Arcadia asked.

790 let loose a sigh on contentment. "Just when life was getting dull!" he exclaimed.

***

Arcadia (toting Starburst in scabbard), Xev, and 790 flew down to the planet in a moth. Stan had refused to go along.

"What's the problem?" Arcadia asked him.

"I'll tell you what the problem is," he replied, pointing to the Noah on Little Lexx's viewscreen. "THAT'S the problem. You think I'm going to leave the ship unattended with Prince sitting out there? Nooooo, way! You girls go along."

Arcadia shrugged, but saw his point. Better the captain stay and keep watch. After all, Stan WAS the only one who could command Little Lexx!

The two women and their machinery landed on the planet surface. It seemed to be a nice-looking place, green, fertile, with lots of pretty flowers and tranquil streams.

"It's the pretty ones you have to watch out for the most!" Xev commented as they started walking.

They soon encountered a group of people in what appeared to be an outdoors auditorium. The structure was open-air, and completely made of white stone. The people were a comely lot, both men and women. They looked young and healthy. Some were seated in small groups, eating and talking softly among themselves. Others were paired off, doing more... intimate things. All were dressed in the same-styled white tunic, men and women alike.

One of the young men noticed Arcadia and Xev step into the clearing. He walked on over to them.

"Greetings, strangers," he said. "Welcome to Baziir. My name is Sajit. Are you travelers?"

"In a sense," Arcadia replied, carefully, studying the young man. He couldn't have been any older than his late 20's. His hair was a light toe-head blond. Come to think of it, ALL of them were!

"Would you care to refresh yourselves?" he asked, beckoning them to sit at a table nearby.

Smiling, Xev started walking over. Arcadia grabbed her arm before she got too far.

"Be careful!" she warned her friend, softly. They sat down with a small group. Arcadia placed 790 on the seat next to her, touching her thigh.

"Ooooh, YES!" the Robot Head exclaimed, joyfully. He started making obscene movements with his virtual "tongue."

Ignoring him, Arcadia began talking to their hosts. Apparently, Baziir was inhabited by various groups of these fair people, collectively known among themselves as Douloi. They seemed to be a completely aesthetic and hedonistic society, living in order to feast, frolic and f... well, she got the idea pretty quick!

"What about industry?" Arcadia asked. "Don't you have an economy? Trade? Commerce?"

Sajit was obviously ignorant of the concept.

"How about government?" she asked again. "Who makes and enforces laws?"

Again, a complete lack of understanding.

"Hmm," Xev stated, considering. "No laws, no money, no work. Sounds like paradise!"

"This IS paradise!" Sajit exclaimed. "And you're welcome to stay as long as you like!"

"Wow!" Xev said, obviously impressed. "Hey, Arcadia, maybe, we've found our new home!"

Arcadia remained silent, not so convinced herself.

"Are there any headless bodies around here that need fitting?" 790 asked.

***

Stan was on the bridge. He hadn't heard anything from either Arcadia or Xev yet. He was considering revoking his earlier decision, when Prince popped in from nowhere.

"Good day, mon capitan!" he said, cheerfully.

Stan nearly fell off the helm. "Prince!" he shouted. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, just a social call really," he replied, walking over to Stan.

"Well, there's no socializing that you're going to get here!" Stan stated. "So just BEAT IT, why don't you!"

"Now, now, Stanley," Prince said, calmly. "This is no way to begin a bargaining session."

"Oh, no!" Stan said, shaking his head. "We've all seen how YOU bargain, Prince! No way, no sir! Not this time!"

"Are you ABSOLUTELY sure you won't consider hearing me out?" Prince inquired smoothly. "It could mean an end to your pitiful wanderings, and a chance for you to get EXACTLY what you've been seeking after all these years!"

Stan had to admit, he was curious. "Oh, yeah? And just what's that?"

"What does every healthy, viral man who's been cooped up with unavailable women desire?" Prince asked, enticingly. "I know your frustrations, Stanley. Here you are, now with TWO beautiful women, who would rather lick each other silly than satisfy the MAN of the ship!"

"Well, yeah... I see your point," Stan said, hesitantly. "So?"

"So, my dear captain," Prince continued, "on the Noah, I've got a whole caboodle of beautiful women who wouldn't mind at all being the lucky play-thing of Stan the Space Stud! Of course, I would have to have some incentive in order to persuade these penthouse pets that you've got the goods!"

Stan was thinking. He had seen some of these beauties. Quite a handful they would make for ol' Stan the Man! Perhaps... just perhaps...

"Not a chance, Prince!" Stan responded, coming to his senses. "I know you, and this ISN'T going to work!"

"Suit yourself," the Evil One said, and disappeared, leaving Stan alone to agonize over the possibilities!

***

It was nearing sunset. The party was breaking up, and the Douloi were all leaving the auditorium.

"Where's everyone going?" Xev asked.

"Oh, it's nearly dark," Sajit explained. "We must go indoors. Come, hurry! You need to follow us!"

"Wait," Arcadia stated. "Why do we have to go inside, just because it's getting dark?"

Sajit was obviously nervous. "It's just the way things are done here," he replied, anxiety in his voice. "Now, please, come! We must hurry!"

Arcadia and Xev followed him away from the gathering place. Already, most of the others were already far ahead of them. The sun dipped under the horizon, as Sajit quickened his step, trying to reach the distant covered structure in front of them.

Suddenly, there arose a fierce and terrifying roar. Sajit stopped in his tracks, horrified.

"Oh, no!" he cried. "We're too late! Run! Run!" He began sprinting ahead in desperation. Arcadia and Xev ran after him.

They were nearly at the structure, when suddenly a giant, hairy bi-pedal creature stepped out in front of them on their path. It was a hideous thing! Sajit screamed and tried to run the other way. The creature roared and began pursuit.

Arcadia had her sword drawn in an instant, poised and ready for combat. Sajit ran past her the other way, the creature following, making large strides. Arcadia stood her ground, blocking the way of pursuit. The creature tried to go through her.

Tried, being the operative word. Its charge was met by a powerful swipe by Starburst. The sword sizzled with electric energy, severing the creature's right arm, and forcing it to detour. The creature howled in pain, and tried to grapple Arcadia with its other arm. She swiftly dodged its blow, and delivered a fatal slash to the creature's head. It fell, a mass of fur and blood.

Hastily, Arcadia picked up 790, and rushed with Xev for the sanctuary of the nearby edifice.

***

"So, have you given it some more thought?" Prince asked, suddenly appearing on Little Lexx's bridge again.

"What's to think about?" Stan replied. "I'm not listening to any proposals from you... PERIOD!"

"Shame," Prince stated in mock sadness. "What I have to say just might save Arcadia and Xev, and make you the luckiest man in the universe in the process!"

"What?!" Stan cried, standing up straight in his seat. "Have you done anything with Arcadia and Xev?"

"Oh, I haven't touched them at all," Prince answered. "Although I do happen to know that they're in for a bit of a jam on that planet down below. That can all change... IF you hear me out!"

Stan sighed. He hated being maneuvered like this! "All right!" he said. "But they better not be in any danger from you!"

"It's quite simple," Prince explained. "You take Little Lexx and leave right now, and I guarantee you your choice of traveling companions from among our fair ladies on board the Noah."

"What about Arcadia and Xev?" Stan asked.

"They get left behind, of course," Prince said. "But, after all, they're just a couple of dykes who aren't willing to give you any! This way, you get a shipload of women who will be at your beck and call!"

Stan shook his head in anger. "I'm not leaving my friends behind," he said. "Not a chance!"

"Have it your way," Prince stated. "Remember, your friends below are about to stumble upon a nasty little surprise. If you leave them in my care, they'll be safe. If not... well, no guarantees! Not to worry, I'll be back to give you one final chance to decide. Cheery bye!" With that, he vanished again.

Stan slammed his hand down on the helm in frustration.

"Ouch!" Little Lexx said.

"Sorry, Little Lexx," Stan replied. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't leave the ship. That would make Little Lexx vulnerable to Prince. He couldn't just leave his friends down there to be at Prince's mercy either. And the women... could he possibly pass up the chance to have a dream crew of gorgeous vixens cruising the cosmos with him?

***

Arcadia and Xev were huddled inside the torch-lit building with a group of Douloi. Most of them were acting as if this was just status quo, and were getting ready to sleep on cots. Sajit had not returned.

"What's going on here?" Arcadia demanded. "What are those things outside?"

"Don't worry," one of the young women replied, "you're safe here."

"What do you mean, 'safe'?" Xev asked. "I don't know about you, but with the exception of Starburst, I don't see any other weapons around here to defend ourselves from those awful beasts!"

"We're safe in here," the woman said again. "They don't bother us in the Great Hall of Sanctuary. They only come at night. That's why we go indoors."

"Why?" Arcadia inquired. "What's so special about this place?"

"It's light," she answered, lying down to sleep. "They're afraid of the light. Good night!"

Arcadia looked at Xev. "Light or no light," she stated. "I'm not staying here with those things crawling around! You ready to get out of here?"

"Am I ever!" Xev replied, following Arcadia out the door.

"Hold me tight!" 790 cried, as Arcadia carried him.

Starburst glowed a gleaming green hue, providing some illumination as they made their way back to the clearing and beyond. They got to the spot where they had landed in the moth. But the moth was gone!

"Oh, no!" Xev exclaimed. "NOW what are we going to do?"

Arcadia grabbed her squawker. "Stan, this is Arcadia," she said into the unit. "Come in please!"

***

Prince popped back on board the Noah. He went to the console.

"Mr. President," he said into the comm, "have you acquired the moth yet? I've been distracting Tweedle for some time now!"

"Yes, my Prince!" Priest replied over the speaker from the moth. "We're flying back to the Noah right now!"

"Change of plans," Prince ordered. "You and First Lady Bunny fly down to the following coordinates on the planet. I'll meet you shortly. Out." He closed the channel.

He straightened up, and checked himself in the reflection on the black screen. "But first..." he said to himself, laughing wickedly.

***

"He's not answering," Arcadia said, getting worried. "What do you suppose he's doing up there?"

"It pains the imagination to even consider the possibilities!" 790 commented.

"I don't know," Xev replied. "It's not like Stan to ignore a call, unless..." She shuddered at the thought.

"... There's a problem." Arcadia finished the sentence. They were thinking the same thing.

"Prince!" they exclaimed in unison.

***

Priest and Bunny flew the stolen moth down to the given coordinates.

"I don't like this, Mr. President!" Bunny complained. "I mean, where is Prince taking us?"

"Not to worry, Bunnykins," Priest said, comfortingly. "I'm sure that Prince knows exactly what he's doing!"

The moth was directly overhead from where Arcadia and Xev were positioned. Bunny spotted a dim green glow below.

"Look!" she exclaimed. "Down there!"

"Yes, I see it," Priest acknowledged, "but that's not the coordinates Prince gave us!"

"Oooh, I know!" Bunny whined. "But maybe there's something interesting down there. Can we just stop and see, please?"

"But snookums!" Priest protested. "What about Prince?"

"Oh, forget him!" Bunny cried. "Can't we just do something for once, just the two of us?" She cuddled up seductively to the President. He couldn't resist, of course!

***

A moth was landing nearby to where Arcadia and Xev were standing.

"Stan! Thank goodness!" Arcadia exclaimed, running with Xev over to where it was setting down.

Priest and Bunny hopped out.

"What the...?" Arcadia exclaimed.

"Priest! Bunny!" Xev cried. "What are you doing with one of our moths?"

"Bunny, dear!" Priest winced, nudging the First Lady back.

"Hi, Xev!" Bunny said, cheerfully. "Boy, am I glad I ran into you!"

"You still haven't answered Xev's question," Arcadia stated.

"Oh... yeah," Bunny said, thoughtfully. She looked at Arcadia. "Who are you?"

"Bunnykins, I REALLY think we ought to get going!" Priest started to climb back on the moth.

"Not so fast!" Arcadia said, grabbing the President by his collar and pulling him back down. Priest was trembling as Arcadia brought him back to the group.

"Hey! Let go of my husband!" Bunny exclaimed. "He's the President!"

"Bunny, this is Arcadia," Xev explained. "She's with us."

"And I'm with her!" 790 piped in, as if anyone was listening.

"Oh... hello," Bunny said, as if that made everything okay. Arcadia let go of Priest. He was still visibly shaken.

"So, what are you doing here?" Xev asked.

"Well, we're supposed to be meeting Prince," Bunny explained. "But I wanted to see the funny green light down here. Where is it, anyway?"

Arcadia pulled out Starburst, demonstrating the effect. Priest and Bunny both withdrew slightly, in awe.

"Wow!" Bunny exclaimed. "It's so big, and long!"

"Thank you," Starburst replied. "I get that a lot."

Arcadia cleared her throat deliberately, as a warning to the sword Starburst fell silent.

"Show off!" 790 muttered.

***

Prince made a third appearance on the bridge of Little Lexx. Stan had been trying to get through to Arcadia or Xev, without success.

"So, have you made a decision?" Prince asked, cunningly.

"Why can't I contact Arcadia or Xev?" Stan demanded. "Have you done anything to them?"

"As I said before," Prince replied calmly, "I haven't touched them. As for communications, they're being jammed by the Noah."

"Jammed?!" Stan cried. "Why? Un-jam it, then!"

"Can't do that, Stanley," Prince exclaimed. "Unless, of course..."

Stan was seriously pissed. "Prince! Clear the communications, and get Arcadia and Xev out of trouble, or I'll... I'll..."

"You'll what, Stanley?" Prince asked, more menacing now. "It seems to me that you've onnly got a couple of choices. One, you can fly over to the Noah yourself and try to fix the jamming problem, or just skip that and fly directly to your friends on the planet. Either way, you leave your ship open to me. Or two, you can accept my proposal, and leave here a happy man, with my assurances that Arcadia and Xev will be safe!"

Stan was trapped! He couldn't leave the Little Lexx, no matter what! That was EXACTLY what Prince wanted. However, if he accepted Prince's bargain, he would indeed be surrounded by beautiful, willing women, but could he trust Prince to keep his word and not harm his friends? Experience told him THAT was a bad bargain!

There WAS a third choice that Prince had not offered. Stan was reluctant to consider it, but it seemed the only other way!

"Little Lexx!" he ordered. "Destroy the Noah!"

"As you command, captain," the ship replied.

Little Lexx charged up its weapon, and fired a burst of energy at the nearby ship. The Noah exploded in a brilliant cascade of fire!

Prince laughed triumphantly. "Well done, Stanley! Well done!" Still laughing, he disappeared.

Stan activated the comm. "Arcadia! Xev! Are you there?" he cried.

"We read you, Stan," Arcadia replied, her voice cracking over the squawker. The signal was no longer jammed. "We're on our way back to the ship!"

Stan breathed a sigh of relief, as he slumped back down in the helm.

***

Though relieved to see his friends safe, Stan couldn't believe that Arcadia and Xev had brought back Priest and Bunny with them!

"Are you out of your mind?!" Stan complained to Xev. "Don't you remember the LAST time we messed with these two?"

"Come on, Stan!" Xev said, defending herself. "We couldn't just leave them down there on that planet. Those creatures are vicious!"

Stan sighed, shaking his head. "Better them than us!"

"Where's your sense of honor, Stan?" Arcadia commented. "I mean, you blew up their ship! It's only fair to take them on board. They haven't done anything to us!"

"Well, ho-ho, Miss Janie Come Lately!" Stan replied. "YOU weren't around when they nearly butchered the lot of us!"

"That was Prince!" Bunny argued. "Not us!"

"She's right!" Priest agreed. "I mean, you know us, Stan. We're your friends!"

"Oh, yeah, whatever!" Stan exclaimed. "I remember just what sort of FRIENDS you were earlier!"

"Be a man, Tweedle!" 790 offered. "Kick their asses off the ship! Make 'em suck vacuum!"

"Shut up, 790!" Arcadia said. "Now listen, Stan," she continued, her voice taking a more soothing and diplomatic tone, "you did a very selfless and noble thing earlier by sacrificing a chance to have a ship of women, and saving your friends instead."

"That's right, Stanley," Xev agreed, taking the cue. She came over to Stan, and put her arm around his shoulder. "You could have taken Prince's offer, but instead you thought of us. That's VERY honorable!"

"I think that such noble character proves that you'd be willing to give Priest and Bunny a chance," Arcadia said. "Wouldn't you say so, Stan?"

"Stanley?" Xev encouraged, playing coy.

Stan managed a weak, willing smile. "Oh, okay," he said, giving in. "But ONLY if they promise to stay out of trouble and NOT have any contact with Prince!"

"That sounds fair," Arcadia stated. She turned to Priest and Bunny. "Agreed?"

"Absolutely!" Priest replied. "We promise!"

"Thank you, Stanley!" Bunny said with glee, giving Stan a kiss on the cheek.

Stan blushed. "Well, it's nothing I guess!" he responded. He turned to Xev. "Did you really mean all that about me being honorable and everything?"

"Sure!" Xev replied. "I'm very proud of you."

"Proud enough to give ol' Stan the Man a little kiss right here?" Stan pointed to his lips, smiling.

"Oh, I suppose it won't hurt this once!" Xev said, giving Stan a quick peck.

"Proud enough to come with me to my room, and... you know?" Stan asked, hopefully.

"Uh... no," Xev answered decisively.

"So much for the rewards of honor!" Stan muttered.

***

Little Lexx left orbit of Baziir shortly afterwards at Stan's orders. After hearing Arcadia and Xev's report, it was unanimously decided that the planet would definitely NOT be an ideal place to settle!

"So, where do we go now?" Xev asked.

"790?" Arcadia inquired, "has your search turned up any other habitable planets?"

"There's only one place habitable for lovesick Robot Heads," he replied, "and that's between your creamy, voluptuous thighs!"

"790," Arcadia warned, beginning to lose patience.

"I've not detected any others yet, my Amazon Love Goddess!" the Robot Head answered.

"I hope that wasn't our only option," Xev remarked, thinking back to those hideous creatures on Baziir.

"Don't worry," Arcadia said, reassuring. "There's GOT to be other life-bearing systems out here, even if it is the Dark Zone!"

***

Priest and Bunny were in the middle of a bit of afternoon delight when Prince popped in to the guest quarters.

"I hope I'm not disturbing any... too late, I see!" the Evil one exclaimed.

The President and First Lady stumbled over each other in an effort to quench the fire and draw a quick curtain on their performance.

"My Prince!" Priest cried, pulling up his pants. "What are you doing here?"

"Surely you didn't think that the Noah's untimely demise would be the end of me?" Prince asked with a malicious grin.

"Of course not, my Prince!" Priest ran over to him, kissing his hand affectionately.

"Uh, Mr. President?" Bunny said, cautiously. "What about our promise?"

Priest looked over at her with fear and warning in his eyes. Prince's ears perked up.

"Promise, you say?" he inquired. "And just what sort of promise is this? Hopefully nothing that would interfere with our lovely little triad of friendship and trust!"

Priest began shaking his head nervously. Prince glared at Bunny. "Well?" he said again.

"Um, it's nothing, I guess," Bunny replied sheepishly, unable to assert herself before the wicked man.

"Good!" Prince exclaimed. "Because we're got some important work to do... and it includes BOTH of you!"

***

"Little Lexx?" Stan asked, seated at the helm, "can you locate Priest and Bunny for me?"

"What is a 'Priest' and what is a 'Bunny'?" the ship inquired innocently.

"You know," Stan explained. "The two new people that we just brought aboard... you know, a man and a woman? Never mind...! Little Lexx, are there two lifeforms who are alike yet different from each other ANYWHERE together on aboard?!"

"Yes, Stan," Little Lexx replied. "There are two lifeforms who are alike yet different, and they are together on board."

"Well," Stan insisted, "WHERE ARE THEY?"

"They are currently on the bridge," Little Lexx replied.

Stan turned to see Xev walk in. Little Lexx was obviously referring to her... and him! Stan gritted his teeth in frustration.

"What's wrong, Stanley?" Xev asked.

"Oh, I just can't seem to get our STUPID BUG to figure out how to keep a track on Priest and Bunny's movements on board!" he replied, angrily.

"Oh, well, that's easy," Xev remarked. "I just saw them in Arcadia's room while I was coming up here to check on you."

"Arcadia's room?!" Stan exclaimed. With a worried look, he hopped down from the helm and started heading that way.

"Wait, what's wrong, Stan?" Xev asked, catching him on his way out. "Don't you trust Arcadia?"

"It's not Arcadia I'm worried about!" Stan exclaimed, running off with Xev following behind.

***

Priest and Bunny were sitting on Arcadia's bed, talking with the heretic. Bunny was particularly interested in Arcadia's stories and adventures. Priest was pretending to be interested. 790 was thoroughly annoyed that he couldn't have Arcadia to himself!

"So what happened next?" Bunny asked, excited.

"Well, they hauled Landry away for getting overly excitable and angry," Arcadia continued, "and put him in the facility that we were once held in. Then, they let us go, Stan, Jezzy, and myself. It was quite a riot, actually! We laughed all the way out of orbit!"

"Too bad they didn't keep Tweedle," 790 said, irritated. "There's no cure for what he's got, you know!"

"Switch off!" Arcadia said. 790 obeyed.

"Wow!" Bunny stated. "You've had some really neat things happen to you! I wish that exciting things happened to me!"

"But, Bunnykins," Priest said, suddenly earning some interest. "Am I not exciting?"

Bunny just kind of shrugged. "Well, yeah, you are, Mr. President. But I mean exciting like other things, like Arcadia's stories!"

Arcadia stood up. "Excuse me," she said, "but I need to use the head." She walked out of the room and disappeared around the corner.

Prince popped in. "Finally!" he said. "Now," turning to Priest and Bunny, "get the sword and go find Tweedle!"

Priest stood up, ready for action. He stopped, confused. "But, my Prince," he said. "What do I do with a SWORD?"

"Take it, and KILL TWEEDLE, you idiot!" Prince exclaimed. "Then take the key to the ship! This isn't quantum physics!" He sighed to himself, then vanished again.

"Oh, I don't like it!" Bunny whined. "What if we get caught?"

"We just need to do what Prince says," the President replied. He began looking around Arcadia's room, quickly discovering the scabbard.

"This must be it," Priest said. He began reaching for the hilt.

"Be careful, Mr. President!" Bunny warned. "I don't think that's an ordinary sword. It talks, and it glows green!"

"Talks?" Priest asked, withdrawing his hand a bit.

"I'm not sure we ought to be doing this!" Bunny complained.

"There, there, snookums," Priest said, reassuring her. "I'm sure that Prince knows what he's doing." He put forth his hand again, just as Stan and Xev entered the doorway.

"NO... DON'T!!!" Xev cried, making a lunge to stop him. She wasn't quite quick enough. The President touched Starburst's hilt. The sword glowed a brilliant green, and unleashed a fiery emerald burst that enveloped Priest. He screamed in pain, as his entire body glowed brilliantly for an instant, then disintegrated. The President was gone!

Xev leaped, but there was nothing left to leap for. Priest was no more. She landed on the ground, as the sword clattered beside her, it's green fire extinguished.

Bunny shrieked and burst into tears. Arcadia came running in. "What the...?"

"Priest made a grab for your sword," Xev explained. "I tried to stop him, but..."

Bunny looked up at Arcadia, still hysterical. "YOU!" She screamed at her. "Your sword killed my husband... you... you... AAAHHH!!!"

She got to her feet and charged at Arcadia in blind rage. Xev nearly intercepted her, but she got past, hurling herself at the heretic.

Unprepared, Arcadia was staggered back by the woman's assault. She quickly got the upper hand, however, holding Bunny tight, trying to get her to settle down. Stan and Xev both assisted her in getting Bunny back to the bed and seated down.

"Stan, you'd better check the ship," Arcadia suggested, "just in case! Xev and I will take care of Bunny."

Stan nodded, and left the room. Arcadia and Xev sat with the bawling Bunny, trying to comfort her.

"He's gone! He's gone!" she cried. "I can't believe he's really gone!" Bunny leaned over on Xev and wailed some more on her shoulder.

Arcadia shook her head in dismay. Why had Priest gone for her sword? He obviously didn't know about the magical ward. Was he trying to get it to use it on her, Stan, and Xev? Something told Arcadia that Prince was likely behind all this!

She arose and looked at Xev. "Stay with her," she said. Xev nodded as Arcadia took Starburst and headed out the doorway. Something told her that they were all about to be in a serious batch of trouble!

***

Arcadia headed for the bridge, Starburst in hand. She arrived just in time to see Prince withdraw a vicious looking blade that he had used to impale Stan in the chest. Stan slumped to the deck, severely wounded.

Prince stepped back, laughing in triumph. The key slowly began to shimmer in Stan's hand, and Prince extended his own palm, ready to receive it.

Arcadia held Starburst out, pointed at the dying Stan. "Heal, level four!" she commanded.

Starburst emitted a bright green beam which lanced out at Stan, covering his body in energy. The fatal wound began to close, as the key began to retract back into the captain's palm.

"NO!" Prince cried, seeing Arcadia at work. The beam faded, as Stan shook his head, slowly regaining strength.

Arcadia repositioned her weapon and faced Prince. "Now you're going to have to take on me," she exclaimed, "and believe me, you won't find this heretic so easy to impale!"

A wicked smile crept over Prince's face. "Oh, my dear," he said, "you have no idea how I've looked forward to this moment!"

He prepared his own sabre, in anticipation for melee. "En garde, Valkyrie!" he shouted.

As Arcadia and Prince began to duel, Stan slowly got to his feet and moved back. Why did Prince now have a weapon, and how could he POSSIBLY take the key from him? Stan wondered. Had Prince undergone some kind of transformation? Figuring that Arcadia was better equipped to deal with this problem, Stan crept off the bridge and headed back towards Xev and Bunny.

***

"Hurry, bitch!" 790 was shouting at Xev, as he was being carried. Xev and Bunny were running towards the bridge.

"Can't you run any faster?!" 790 demanded. "My Amazon Woman could be in trouble!"

Xev stopped briefly, quite pissed at 790's rudeness. "You want to get to your 'Amazon' faster?" she asked. "Here! Take a shortcut!" She tossed the Robot Head off the nearest ledge towards the bowels of the ship and kept on running with Bunny.

They ran into Stan on the way. "There you are!" he exclaimed, panting for breath. "Come on! Arcadia's on the bridge, duking it out with Prince!"

They quickened their pace towards the bridge.

***

Arcadia was having trouble fending off Prince's vicious attacks. The man was NOT human! His skill was admirable, and his dexterity was keeping Arcadia on the defense most of the time.

"Knight Strike!" she commanded, as Starburst released an energy bolt with the next slash. Prince dodged it, laughing.

"Cyclone!" she commanded again, this time Starburst glowing with deadly power as she executed a circular sweep, which would have sizzled anything within a five foot radius from her. Again, Prince evaded.

"Not bad," the Evil One exclaimed. "You ARE a skilled swordsman indeed! I had so hoped that this Avatar would have been wasted on the incompetent!"

"Avatar?" Arcadia asked. Of course! How else could Prince be able to take the key, as well as unleash a deadly physical assault upon the crew!

"Yes, I'm sure you of all people know something of that word, don't you?" Prince said, grinning. "Your sword did me a great favor by killing Priest. I've been needing an Avatar ever since being freed from Earth. And since I was unable to kill anybody myself in my previous form, I had to rely on somebody else to provide. My sincere thanks! And now, my dear, my plan in complete. I now have the means to kill you all and take this vessel!"

Arcadia gripped her sword tightly. So, this was it! "I've killed gods before," she said. "I'm prepared to do so again, if necessary!"

"Is that a threat?" Prince inquired, with mock fear.

"It's a promise!" Arcadia replied, locking blades with Prince as they continued to spar.

Footsteps were approaching the bridge. Prince paused, smiling.

"The show begins!" he said, as his appearance suddenly changed to that of Priest!

Stan, Xev, and Bunny entered. "Priest" lowered his weapon and pretended to be frightened.

"Mr. President!" Bunny cried. "You're alive!" She rushed toward Prince.

"NO, Bunny, don't!" Arcadia warned, trying to stop her. "He's not really Priest!"

But it was too late. Bunny had rushed into his arms, as Prince resumed his true form, and put Bunny in a headlock, holding his sword to her throat.

"Put the sword down," Prince ordered Arcadia, "or she becomes a candidate for your Robot Head!"

Scared out of her wits, Bunny looked at Arcadia helplessly. Stan and Xev tried to move forward, but Prince put more pressure on Bunny's neck. "Where's Kai when you really need him?!" Stan whispered to Xev.

"Wait!" Arcadia said, putting her hand up in a halting gesture. "All right, you win." She slowly lowered Starburst and set it on the deck in front of her.

"That's better," Prince said. "Now, since we've got the whole gang here, how's about we just..."

Arcadia was tensing every muscle in her body, preparing for a spring. She executed it just as Prince had eased up on his grip, seeing Arcadia put the sword down. She flew into action, tackling Prince and Bunny with such precision that Prince lost his hold on the poor girl, his own sword missing her neck in a randon sweep to the side.

Arcadia and Prince went reeling as Xev quickly pulled Bunny out of the way. Arcadia attempted to wrestle the blade from him, with little success. Prince got to his feet first, and made a swipe for her head. Arcadia ducked, hearing the metal swoosh just inches above her.

"Arcadia!" Xev shouted. She ran to Starburst, and was about to pick it up to throw to her, but remembered the incident with Priest. She growled in frustration, not sure what to do.

Arcadia saw that Xev was trying for the sword. She was distracted and tried to ward her off. "No, Xev!" she shouted.

It was just the split second that Prince needed. He saw an opening, and thrust his sword into Arcadia's abdomen. The heretic shrieked in pain, doubling over and falling down.

Xev screamed with rage. Stan and Bunny tried to hold her back, but Xev broke through their grasp and ran to Arcadia's side.

Prince backed off, smiling. He turned his attention to Stan. "You're next, captain!" he exclaimed, preparing his weapon for an attack on Stan.

Weak, Arcadia pulled Xev close to her. "Take Starburst," she whispered. "You're the only one who can stop him! Retributive Strike!" She gasped for air, then slumped down, unable to speak anymore.

With an avenging flame in her eyes, Xev grabbed hold of Starburst on the ground. The sword accepted its wielder.

Prince was nearly on top of Stan, ready to deal a fatal blow to the cowering captain, when Xev charged him from behind unaware.

"Retributive Strike!" Xev commanded, and thrust the sword into Prince's backside with all her might.

Prince howled in pain, but the damage was far from over. Starburst glowed with more intensity than Xev had ever seen before, and releasing every ounce of its magical power, delivered a final coup-de-grace attack on its last victim.

Prince was swallowed up in a fiery blaze that emitted such force as to throw Stan, Bunny, and Xev back at least ten feet each. The flames erupted, as both Prince and the sword vanished in a cloud of smoke!

The smoke finally cleared, as nothing remained of Prince but a dim green glow where he last stood. Xev got to her feet, as Stan helped Bunny up. The three of them went to where Arcadia lay dying.

"Arcadia!" Xev exclaimed. "He's gone, but so is the sword! I can't use it to..."

"It's all right," Arcadia whispered, coughing as she spat blood. The wound in her gut was too severe. She knew that she wouldn't survive this one!

"Xev," she said, pulling her friend close to her, "I knew you could do it! I'm going to miss you."

"Don't die, Arcadia!" Stan insisted. "You can't die! We need you!"

Arcadia reached over and grabbed Stan's hand. "You've come a long way from that Assistant Deputy Back-Up Courier I knew long ago, captain!" she said, smiling barely. "I'm proud of you, Stan!" She kissed his hand, and let go.

"Arcadia," Xev cried, tears coming down. "Please don't die!"

"I died once before," Arcadia stated, nearly out of strength. "I came back, too. Who knows? This heretic might just have THREE lives!"

She winced in agony, her life fading and the room getting dark as her eyesight began to grow dim.

"I love you guys," she whispered, as she closed her eyes and breathed her last.

Weeping, Xev cradled Arcadia's head in her lap. Stan and Bunny both put their arms around her, comforting her.

"It's going to be all right," Stan said, reassuring her. "We're going to be okay."

***

Xev would have liked to bury Arcadia's body, but there just simply wasn't an opportunity. Stan even sympathized with her, not too keen on Little Lexx's natural means of disposing of organic material.

"It just doesn't seem a fitting way for someone who gave their life for us," Stan commented. "I wish we had a planet nearby so that we COULD bury her. She deserves at least that!"

Xev nodded silently. Next to Kai, she couldn't remember feeling so hurt and empty at the loss of someone.

"I really never got to know her," Bunny said, "but I'm going to miss her too. She seemed to be such a nice lady!"

"Well..." Stan started to offer an argument, only to catch a dangerous look from Xev. "You're right," he said, amending his comment, "she was nice."

He hopped up to the helm, activating the template with his key. "Little Lexx," he said, "let's find ourselves a new home, for the three of us!"

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

He looked over at Xev, smiling. Xev returned the smile, with a gleam of hope in her eyes.

"At least I've still got you guys," she said, giving both Stan and Bunny a hug.

***

On board the Little Lexx, 790 sat alone on what once served as Arcadia's bed. He refused to be moved. He refused to speak to anyone. He sat there, lamenting the loss of his beloved Amazon Warrior.

"All night by the Valkyrie,
All night by her loin cloth I lay,
I once felt the sweet wetness from beneath,
Oh, for one last chance, I pray!"

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