by Lucky Charms

Disclaimers: See Part 1.

Feedback is always welcome: luckycharms@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2004 by Lucky Charms. All Rights Reserved.

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The captains nodded in agreement and murmured various choice comments before Marie rolled up the map, signaling that the meeting was over. "Be back here just as the sun reaches the tops of the Goddess Mountain. We will go over any last minute preparations then." As the captains left Marie's tent, the woman let out a yawn and clapped her hands before calling to her personal servant.

A tall, devilishly handsome, and muscular man entered the tent with nothing but a loincloth on. "Steve," Marie began. "Looking good as usual."

Steve's eyes flickered with hatred as his face remained emotionless. He was once a proud chief of his tribe until Marie's army waged a surprise attack on his men. Since then, he has been Marie's personal slave and has been subject to humiliation before the women and the surviving men of his tribe. "You called?" he asked evenly.

Marie stood before Steve with a faint grin on her face as she trailed a finger along his chest. "One day, you will learn to submit to me fully. One day, you will learn to love me as you should." Marie gazed up at Steve and her eyes shone with dark lust. "We can be great together. You will be treated like the king you once were..." She tilted her head. "...if only you would just accept your fate."

"Is there anything you need?" Steve said, staring forward.

Marie's face contorted in anger then she smacked Steve. "I will not be mocked by the likes of you!" She spit on his face. "You beasts disgust me! Get out of my face." Marie turned on her booted heels and disappeared further in her tent.

Steve grabbed a corner of the door flap and wiped off the spit and smiled to himself. The only satisfaction he got while being in this place was making a fool out of Marie on occasion. A smack here, some spitting there, even the occasional whipping was more than worth the knowledge that Marie can never get what she wanted from him.

The young man walked out and looked into the blue sky, shading his eyes from the sun, and hoped that some miracle would come around to save both his people and the Amazons.

The actual definition of a miracle is this: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. Of course this brings up the muddy idea of 'divine intervention'. Is all divine intervention a good thing?

Wangfred let out a bored yawn as he sat in his seat on the ship's deck and stared at the endless expanse of space. "How much longer?" he asked the computer.

"One hour and fifteen minutes!" the computer snapped. "That's two minutes less than from the time you last asked me you idiot!"

"Can't this thing go any faster?" Wangfred slouched deep in his chair. Suddenly, Wangfred was launched from his chair and landed in a heap on the floor several feet from his chair.

"Oops," the computer said innocently. "Must've hit the breaks on accident."

"You sneaky bi-...!" Wangfred snarled.

"Incoming message from the Admiral," the computer interrupted.

"...-tch. Admiral Sammy!" Wangfred said happily as the woman's face appeared on the screen. "Pleasure to see you. How can I be of service?"

"Captain Pussenboots," the Admiral said curtly. "Interesting to see you alive."

Wangfred looked confused at the odd comment a moment before replying, "Thank you, ma'am?"

"I was just checking to see how things are going with your ship." Sammy looked utterly depressed. "Damn those engineers' competence..."

"What was that ma'am?" Wangfred asked.

"Oh nothing Captain," Sammy replied quickly. "So how are things with your hunt for a crew?"

"We're en route to the planet Amazonia, Admiral," Wangfred reported dutifully. "We will arrive there in... in..."

"One hour and ten minutes," the computer supplied, exasperated.

"Amazonia." The Admiral sifted through a small pile of papers and quickly read something before a delighted smile crossed her face. "Capital job Wangfred, and excellent choice if I do say so myself. Report to me when you have acquired your crew member." Sammy closed the connection and chuckled. "Little do you know, you little annoyance, that Amazonia is on the brink of civil war! Hopefully you'll be caught in the middle..." Sammy began to cackle evilly.

"What do you mean compromise?" Lyan roared. "That woman is insane, don't you see? We have to get our people ready for war!"

"I won't let the hard work that our previous Queens have struggled to create go to ruin over the likes of her," Lyan's mother replied shortly. "Lyan, I understand how you feel, but war is never the answer to life's problems."

Lyan crossed her arms. "And you think talking to a mad woman is? We should try to get word to the men, they'll help us."

Lyan's mother shook her head. "This is an Amazon problem. We take care of our own. Now go back to your tent and wait there. I'll send for you when you're needed."

Lyan couldn't believe what she heard. Granted she enjoyed the peaceful life, but sitting back and doing nothing but talk when the threat of your life's end is at hand was stupidity! The young woman turned on her heels and stormed to her tent. There had to be something she could do to stop this insanity.

Bringing out her labrys, Lyan examined the blades and clenched the hilt tightly. She knew she could do something. The Amazon stepped out of her tent again, the sun was just above the Goddess Mountain and a chill wind blew against her flesh and she shivered. She thought she could hear the battle cries in the distance while her people went about their daily lives like nothing is going on. "I will do something," she said to herself before she ran down the hill into the forest.

Steve watched as the Amazons prepared to go to war and looked to the heavens again, sending a silent prayer to his God for a miracle.

Wangfred let out a mighty snore as he slept in an awkward position in his captain's chair as the planet Amazonia slowly began to come into view...

Continued in Part 3

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