B10
Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story
By James
Chapter 10: So Spoke April
April had rarely seen Lothar tense. He was the picture of poise and calm. A powerful man, to say the least, but often the proverbial gentle giant.
Not today. Not right now. He charged down the hall, heading toward her, clearly on his way to the aircraft deck. She had just been in that place herself, running a check on the fighter planes. "L," she uttered. "What's going on?"
He passed her spot. "I've got to get over to the Bandar village. A Mongo craft is heading straight there now."
April turned, running with him. "Why would Mongo want to strike the village?"
"It's not going to be a widespread attack. It's a small craft. It's got to be Ming."
April seethed. "What do you mean?"
"Hadea and Guran are meeting today — out in the village, out in the open. They're signing an agreement between their lands."
April could hear the fear in his voice. Ming wanted payback on Queen Hadea. This would be his chance to assassinate her.
"If the queen dies, then so does the treaty — a treaty that would benefit the people there."
Of course, Ming wouldn't care about that. She tightened her fists, increasing her speed. They had to reach the village and stop that man.
April sprawled out on the rocky cliff. Lothar was laying right by her side. She pulled the binoculars to her eyes, watching the queen and the chief on-stage. Hundreds of villagers had gathered today. The sky was blue. The air was calm. Everything looked to be going well.
But Ming was somewhere amid the crowd, waiting for an opening to strike the queen. He had to have landed without detection, sometime before she and Lothar did.
April tensed. "There." She pointed. "6 o'clock."
Lothar looked down through his sniper rifle.
Someone was approaching the stage in a robe — a standard, Bandar-village robe. They were moving closer than everyone else.
"Can you see a face?" April asked.
Lothar paused. "Not just yet." He sounded rather shaky and hesitant. "This person isn't as tall as Ming."
April squinted, growing confused. If it wasn't Ming, then who could it be? Who else would have reason to attack Hadea, assuming they were actually here for her?
Guran kept talking at the podium.
April got a cold feeling in her gut. She hoped her new assumption was incorrect. "L..." she muttered. "If Hadea dies, then who gets the throne?"
"I'm not really sure. What does it matter?"
"It matters a lot, especially now. Especially if that's who I think it is." The village might be in incredible danger.
Guran was smiling as he spoke to the crowd.
A number of guards stepped before the intruder, each of them gripping their hefty spears.
The robed one extended a hand slowly.
April leaned forth. "Hadea has a trio of sisters, right? It's her, Sheila, Castra...and..." April paused. "Oh no," she muttered.
Each of the guards went flying back, taken off their feet by a powerful wind. The robed intruder whipped an arm about, blasting other guards with lightning now.
Several of the villagers screamed in fright, scurrying away from the violent scene.
Hadea stood up, stumbling back.
Guran started running for cover as well.
April threw the pair of binoculars down. "That's Aura's daughter! Princess Astra. She wants to get Aura on the Netherworld throne." April couldn't help but to scold herself. They should've anticipated this sooner. They should've been prepared for anything. They needed better weapons to stop Astra. That was what it looked like anyway.
Astra climbed the stage and approached Hadea.
April's heart raced. Only one chance. "Take her out now! You have to aim high!"
Lothar quivered. "I think I can go for a body wound. I think..."
April snatched the weapon away. Closing an eye, she locked her sight onto Astra's head.
"April!" he shouted. "Defenders don't k- -"
The echo of a BOOM rang out through the air.
Lothar seemed to fidget at April's side.
Sound disappeared from the world for a second. A billow of smoke fluttered out of her gun.
Lothar made a shout. She couldn't hear him. Everything around her slowed down to a crawl.
April held her gaze on the scene again.
Astra staggered... Then she fell. Her hands twitched a little as she lay on the stage. It wasn't long before they didn't move at all. Her eyes grew wide, and she went stiff. Blood was pouring from the hole in her head.
Hadea eyed the woman, her pale limbs shaking.
A number of villagers were looking on.
April's breaths deepened as she studied the scene. Her face grew cold, and so did her legs. It felt like all the feeling had left her frame.
Mandrake made a grin as he cut the cards. "So," he muttered, eyeing Flash. "When are you and I going to talk about that?"
"Talk about what?" Flash asked slowly, keeping his eyes on the colorful deck, wary of his friend playing some sort of trick.
"That," he said, pointing a second.
Flash turned around, flinching a bit. There was an elephant within the room. Then it disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Very funny," Flash replied, turning to face Mandrake again. "I assume you're referring to Amy and Rick."
Mandrake nodded, eyeing the deck.
Flash stroked his chin. "They seem to be happy. I think that maybe..." He paused as April stormed through the room, eyes locked forward as she passed the game. "You okay?"
"Fine," she answered. And then she walked out.
Lothar appeared soon afterward. "Flash," he whispered. "I think she needs you."
Flash rose slowly. "What's going on?"
Mandrake appeared concerned as well.
Lothar sighed. "She and I have just come back from a mission. April made a very big decision today."
"What kind of decision?" He glanced at the door.
"You could say she sent a message to our foes. She told them that we're willing to cross a line."
Flash began to grasp what Lothar meant. The thought of it was leaving him very unsettled.
"Talk to her, Flash. She needs her dad."
Flash started walking toward April's room. He could be a hotshot player later.
He needed to be a father now.
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Chapters
Volume I
As the New Rebellion rages across Mongo and Earth, Jedda and Krotan unite against Ming — and find themselves pursued by one of his ships.
2: Mongo Is Burning — Part 1
Desperate to end the battles, Krotan and Jedda, who have fallen in love, agree to a politically driven wedding — which Rick opposes.
3: Mongo Is Burning — Part 2
Despite growing opposition to the wedding, Jedda and Krotan remain firm in their decision.
Rick observes Amy venting, then ends up on a wild ride.
Amy visits her ailing foster mother, only to realize that she's fallen into a trap.
Rick and Amy take May to the Netherworld, where an invasion has begun.
Against the wishes of Rick and others, Amy makes a bargain with Damian Dark.
While the Defenders scramble to catch up with Amy, another battle occurs in the Netherworld.
Volume II
Flash sets out to free Ming, who has vital information regarding an impending attack.
Lothar and April move to counter an assassination attempt.
The team hurries to prevent LJ and Rick from carrying out an assault on another planet.
The Royal Five converge to counter a group of outlaws who've abducted Castra's husband.
Despite Castra's objections, Hadea grows tempted to remain on Mongo and take over as queen.
Kshin and LJ suspect that Veena is planning to bring her father back.
The Gordons arrive at Dale's grave.
Castra and her relatives vie for the position of queen on Mongo.
Volume III
Dale reveals the identity of her first child.
Veena uses her powers to help others.
Flash gets a startling surprise while chasing Ming.
20: The Princess Makes Her Move
In Dimension K, Ming weds his ambitious stepdaughter Hadea.
A visitor arrives from Dimension Y, intent on taking Dale back with her.
Duffy attempts to bond with Dale, who learns of a portal to another dimension.
After arriving on Earth K, the duo find themselves captured by Queen Hadea, who tasks Dale with a mission.
Now a mother of four, Dale attempts to help ease tensions between April and Duffy.
Rick learns that Duffy might have another special ability.
Volume IV
After using her seer to avert a grim future, the Hadea of Earth K believes herself unbeatable.
April receives a visit from her aunt, Commander Abigail Gordon, who seeks her help on a mission.
Amy confronts her mother Cathleen, who is attempting to conquer Earth P.
On Earth C, Agent Kristina Graf seeks members for a new defense team.
April and Duffy are approached by Kent Madden's daughter Clare, who claims to need their help.
Sheila reflects on her choices.
32: Parental Guidance Required
Duffy develops an unexpected bond.
The Defenders are challenged inside Monitor.
In response to the recent assault, Abby and Dale take action against Madden.
Duffy begins acclimating to life on Earth B.
Krotan receives comfort from Jedda in the midst of a new matter.
Amy seeks to help an old friend.
Hadea and Jedda bond on Earth H in the series finale.
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