Starship Armstrong - Season 3

Part 40 - Family Ties (XVIII)

"You're fine," said Lanar.

"I'm shaken," Ambie retorted. "I couldn't breathe. She could have killed me."

The two engineers waited by the relativity drive for the signal to turn it back on. It had been several hours.

"You have to stay" said Lanar, matter-of-factly.

"But this job only takes one of us."

"You're not here for the job, you're here so I can keep an eye on you."

Ambie groaned.

"Yes," said Lanar suddenly, touching his ear. "Got it," he turned to Ambie. "Fire 'er up!"

"I thought you said I wasn't here for the job," said Ambie.

"Just do it," said Lanar.

* * *

"We have the drive up and running," the Queen told Mitzner. "The tunnel should be opening as we speak."

"I'll see you on the outside," Mitzner replied.

* * *

Mitzner emerged from the space/time tunnel, followed warily by McAfree. The were alone.

Mitzner's dress was tattered, wrinkled, and water-stained. The skirt lay in shredded ruin. Her hair was a wild mess.

The Queen, by contrast, had made it this deep into the water tunnels without so much as a blemish on her fine royal clothing. Not a hair on her head was out of place. She was surrounded by retainers and guards.

Aside from that the two women looked identical.

"Where are the terrorists?" asked the Queen.

"They're inside," said Mitzner, darkly.

"I'll have my people bring them out."

"No," said Mitzner. "We need to talk first."

"About?"

"Why did you do it?"

"What am I meant to have done?

Mitzner crossed her arms.

"Whatever the terrorists told you is a lie," said the Queen.

"They didn't tell me anything. They don't know shit, they're a bunch of stooges you entrapped."

"Okay," said the Queen, nodding with anger, "First of all, even if I did whatever you're accusing me of, you can't entrap someone into terrorism. If you give a non-terrorist the opportunity to commit an act of terrorism they say 'no'."

"This isn't a terrorist cell this is a glorified university club. They could never have pulled something like this off. You made this all happen to try and keep me here, just admit it."

"Alright. Fine. I did it. I wasn't going to sit there and allow you to insult our shared genetic heritage by willingly submitting to the very people who tried to make us a race of slaves. I couldn't let my own twin debase herself like that. I would hope you would do the same for me."

"You put McAfree in danger!" shouted Mitzner.

"She put on a Foundation uniform," said the Queen, calmly but with simmering menace. "She's an enemy soldier. I'd have her flayed alive if I thought it would knock some sense into you. I still might, the night is young."

Mitzner sucker-punched the Queen. Her guard was completely down and so she took the blow full force to her jaw. She was knocked back, barely caught in time by three of her retainers. They immediately steadied her. Her guards pointed their guns at Mitzner.

"No!" said the Queen, staying them with her hand. "Don't shoot. None of you intervene, do you understand? No matter what happens. I think we both need this."

The Queen put her hands up, defensively. Mitzner copied her.

Mitzner came at the Queen first with a combination of three feints, trying to create an opening. The Queen read Mitzner's moves like a book, ignored the feints, and went in a strong right hook to the head. Mitnzer, likewise, saw this coming and was ducking under it before the punch had even been thrown.

Mitzner blocked three more of the Queen's punches, then the Queen jumped over Mitzner's low kick. The Queen landed, and Mitzner jumped forward just as she jumped backwards. The Queen blocked two punches from Mitzner, who in turn blocked the Queen's counterattack.

The assembled guards and retainers were starting to really get into the fight. Although both women were fighting to an obvious standstill they cheered the Queen's every small victory and booed Mitzner the rest of the time.

Mitzner ducked under a high kick and tried to pop up with an uppercut, but the Queen dodged out of the way.

The Queen jumped back at Mitzner and feinted a kick but Mitzner saw through the feint and met it with a real kick to the head. The Queen's neck snapped backwards violently and she fell to the ground. Her people crowded around her, sick with worry.

Mitzner went over and offered her hand. The Queen took it and Mitzner pulled her to her feet.

"Feel better?" asked the Queen.

"No," said Mitzner. "You're still a tyrant."

"Don't be melodramatic."

"Let them go," said Mitzner

"Are you kidding me?" asked McAfree.

"They're terrorists," said the Queen.

"They were following your orders, that makes them loyal subjects of the crown," said Mitzner. "You'll get 'em next time. Let them go."

"As a favor to you, in my infinite benevolence I will deign to grant them pardons if it will make you feel better."

"It would."

"Then it is done. After all, what is family for?"

"Thank you," said Mitzner.

"You're welcome," said the Queen. "Now I think you should go."