D29
Dynasties
By James
Chapter 29: Sons
Rick took a seat right across from his dad.
"A father learns a lot of lessons while raising a son," Flash declared as he sat down too.
Rick raised his brow. What prompted this?
"One of those lessons is that kids are capricious. They'll be at point A one day, and at point Z the next. A parent's job is to figure out what happened between those points." He grinned a little while shaking his head. "And it seems that I still have to do that job these days."
Rick scoffed. "What makes you say that?"
"Last I heard, you were at point A: Monica had gotten pregnant while cheating on you — but the two of you had managed to work things out." He sighed. "Now it appears that you're at point Z: You're angry at her all over again." He lifted a hand. "You want to tell me what happened between the two points?"
Rick looked over at the spot where Dynak used to be. For some reason, it seemed that he'd rather be having this conversation with her.
"I thought that you wanted to help raise Monica's baby."
Rick chuckled. "That was before I learned the truth: Her affair had been going on longer than I thought. She's been pregnant since before I even visited Mongo."
Flash frowned. "When's she due?"
"A few weeks from now," Rick muttered. "I'm not so sure what I'm going to do anymore."
"Is the relationship worth saving?"
Rick fell silent for a minute, then sighed. "It seems I just can't manage to stay angry at this girl. Monica's a decent person. And I'm sure she's going to be a good mother. She and I have just had a bumpy road this past year."
"So what happens now?"
"Part of me still wants to be there for her — and for the kid as well." He looked up at his dad. "Is that kind of dumb on my part?"
Flash smiled while glancing down at the table. "When you were little, everyone else wondered what you were going to be when you grew up." He eyed his son with a satisfied stare. "But I never asked, because I already knew: You were going to become a leader, and you were going to become a father." He winked. "Nice to see that one of my predictions is coming true."
Rick looked a tad confused. "But I'm not going to be a father. I said I might be a father figure."
"A hard worker like you won't know the difference," said Flash. "In any case, it sounds like you're about to begin the journey of fatherhood." He took a deep breath. "This is a moment that I've been anticipating with mixed emotions."
"Why is that?"
"Because no new father can look forward without looking back." He paused while staring deeply into Rick's eyes. "You've been thinking a lot about your own childhood, haven't you? You've probably been reviewing everything I did right...and everything I did wrong."
Rick began searching for a way to change the subject.
"If you were to assess my performance as a parent while you were a kid, what grade would I get?"
He chuckled. "Let's not go there. We both know that you were a good dad."
"Sure — when I wasn't too busy flying around the galaxy getting in fights with Ming." He quieted again while looking Rick over. "I think that you'd give me a B."
Rick scowled. "I'm not going to start assessing people with grades, especially not you."
"I notice that you didn't deny it."
Rick turned away.
"Sorry. I don't mean to upset you. As I said, I'm actually quite happy about what you're doing." Flash's voice lowered a bit. "I just wish that I could be happy about your reasons for doing it."
"And what do you suppose my reasons are?"
"I think that you want to give this kid the kind of childhood that you yourself always wanted. I think that you want to be a better father than I ever was."
Rick smirked. "Listen, old man. I'm sure it's fun to go around thinking that everything is about you, but this is actually between me and Monica. It isn't a 'statement' about your performance as a dad."
Flash nodded, but still eyed the table with a somber smile.
"Do I wish that you'd been around more often when I was a kid? Yes. Do I resent you for that now? No." Rick broke eye contact and began to mumble. "I know that you had your reasons for being away all the time. You were off helping people. You were off basking in the thrill of adventure."
"It wasn't about 'adventure,' and it wasn't about 'thrills.' " Flash chuckled, shaking his head. "So many people assume that I get a kick out of what I do for a living. Everybody talks about it. Everybody sings about it. 'Out of the sky, my rockets ignite. Jets into battle, flies faster than light.' People think I'm driven by a need for excitement — and at one point, maybe I was. But all of that came to an end once you came along."
Rick flinched in surprise.
"Having a son changes things. You become a role model. You become an idol." He squinted. "I know it's been a while, but do you remember watching me on the news when you were little?"
Rick mumbled and looked away. "Maybe once or twice, I guess." He couldn't recall ever making a bigger understatement.
"Your mom used to tell me how giddy you'd get when you heard about what I was doing. I could see that myself when I looked in your eyes." He cupped his hands and stared down at his thumbs. "And that's what really motivated me back then. That's what made Flash Gordon who he is today. I liked looking good for you. I liked making you proud."
Rick's lips parted as he stared.
"But as you got older, I could see that I was taking the wrong approach. I didn't need to make an impression on you from afar. Instead, I should've been doing that at home."
Rick nodded. "And you did. It may have taken a little while, but better late than never, right?"
Flash tossed a shy glance up at his son.
"You don't have anything to be ashamed of. You did the best job that you could while I was growing up. You can give yourself a B grade if you want, but in my book, you definitely get an A for effort."
A slow wave of affection spread over Flash's face. "You know something? You're not only a strong and responsible man, you're a kind one as well." He smiled. "You're going to be a good father, Rick."
"Father figure," he countered again. "I'm not looking to replace the boy's father, and everyone involved knows that. I'm simply looking to help out, to be a friend."
"Well, whatever the label, you're going to make a great impression on this kid."
"If I do," he mumbled, "then I guess it's because someone made a great impression on me."
Flash blushed. Before long, he found himself searching for a different subject. "So anyway, Monica's son will be about two years younger than Jedda's daughter, right? Maybe those kids can hang out when they're a little older."
A nearby door slid open. A moment later, an unexpected guest walked into the room.
"Sorry if I'm intruding," said Hadea.
"Not at all," Rick muttered, rising from his seat. "I was just leaving."
The queen lifted her chin. "How are things with Monica?"
"I think I'm about to figure that out."
Flash stroked his brow while watching Hadea and Rick speak. There were several things in life that he couldn't quite figure out, and this bond appeared to be one of them. But while he may not have understood it, he did respect it. From what he could tell, it seemed to have positive effects on his son. "Hey..." he called out.
Rick turned around.
"No matter what happens, remember that I'm proud of you for what you're trying to do."
Rick waved and moved toward the door again.
Hadea stood with her arms crossed and her gaze on the floor. A few seconds after Flash had finished, the queen spoke up. "As am I."
Rick paused at the exit, glancing over his shoulder.
Hadea avoided eye contact.
"Thanks," he said softly.
She nodded without a word.
Shortly after Rick had left, Hadea turned to Flash. "Can I speak to you about something?"
"Sure," he said, pointing to the chair across from his.
"Come here. Let's sit together," Jedda said, flashing one of her energetic smiles. She and Krotan eased down on the carpet, facing each other as they sat before their balcony. The couple was clad in matching robes. A steady downpour of rain showered the kingdom.
Krotan knew this smile well. Jedda had an announcement of sorts. By the looks of it, she probably wanted to inform him of a new law that she'd made, or some good news that she'd received. He never suspected that the nature of their conversation would be more personal.
Upon sitting down, Jedda lifted her knees and began drawing them to her sides. "Now let's go cross-legged," she said, "let's conduct this discussion samurai-style."
Krotan looked her over with a confused stare, but slowly complied.
Jedda giggled. "I love it when you look at me like that." She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.
"What was that for?" asked Krotan.
"For being my husband."
Krotan shrugged, then took her hands in his. "Jedda?"
"Yeah?"
"What are we doing on the floor?"
She grinned again. "I thought this was your idea of a romantic afternoon — watching the rain fall while hanging out with me."
Krotan chuckled, finding it charming that she took note of things like that. "It is."
Her grin slowly faded, and she licked her lips a second. "Let's talk a little about Vera, and what we're accomplishing with her."
He paused a moment, then began running his thumbs over Jedda's hands. "All right."
"We're giving her a normal upbringing, right?"
"We are."
"And we're giving her two loving parents, right?"
He nodded.
Jedda took a deep breath, then closed her hands around Krotan's. "What if we were to give Vera a sibling as well?"
A flash of surprise appeared on Krotan's face.
"What if we were to try giving ourselves a second child?"
Krotan recalled the last time that they'd addressed this subject. Jedda had mentioned it very briefly. He'd always known that they'd discuss this at length someday — but he'd never known just how he would handle the discussion. "I...I sense that you've been thinking about this a lot lately."
Jedda felt a warm thrill spreading through her. "I like the idea of having another little person to get to know and love. Don't you?"
Krotan took a deep breath. "It is a nice thought," he managed to say.
She held her palm up for a high-five, and Krotan eyed her strangely before slapping his hand against hers. Jedda chuckled. "I like you."
He rolled his eyes and grinned, then looked off to the side. "That's nice to know."
A long silence followed.
"What are you so quiet about?" asked a beaming Jedda.
"Nothing. It's just..." Krotan began to mumble. "What if our second child was a boy?"
"Do I detect a hint of fear in your voice?"
He looked down at his lap. "Having a son would be different."
A curious frown swept over her face now.
"When Vera was born, a part of me was relieved to see that we had a girl."
Jedda went briefly quiet, then spoke up again. "You were afraid of having a son?"
He glanced off with a mutter. "Not afraid. Just maybe...unsettled."
Her tone became softer, and a bit more serious. "All right, then. Unsettled." She leaned forth and stroked his chin, offering a friendly, compassionate expression. "Why?"
"I was worried that whenever he and I quarreled, or I lost my temper..."
Jedda looked up and nodded to herself as Krotan spoke.
"I was worried that I'd wear the same expressions that my father used to wear." He closed his eyes a moment. "And I feared that I was capable of doing worse as well."
She held quiet, choosing to simply listen.
His voice dropped to a whisper as he eyed Jedda again. "I've repeated several of Ming's mistakes in the past — but I've managed to commit most of them outside of this house." He lowered his head. "I can't bear the thought of committing them inside of it as well."
More silence passed. Before long, Jedda began eyeing him with a sweet smile.
Krotan lifted an eyebrow amidst his somber expression.
She squeezed his hands and shook her head a little. "You, sir, have a lot of concerns about parenthood," she said. "And I know that's actually supposed to be a good thing, but some of your concerns are unnecessary." Her stare grew more serious. "I know you. You're not Ming. You're Krotan. You've been a good father to Vera, and you'll also be a good father to..." She glanced up at the ceiling as her words trailed off. "What are we going to name this kid?"
Krotan felt his mood brightening a little. He liked how Jedda had that effect on him.
"If it's a boy...how about Lowe?" Jedda nodded. "Princess Vera and Prince Lowe. How does that sound?"
"Just fine to me," he said quietly. "But there's one other thing: If we have two children, then which of them gets the throne once we step down?"
"The eldest, right?" Jedda rolled her eyes. "Though I think feisty little Vera might actually prefer to be a warrior instead of a queen." She couldn't help but snicker. "Might have to offer her the throne as soon as she comes of age. I think that'll be the safest place for her."
He quieted while looking her over. "Why are we discussing all of this now? Where did this come from?"
"I don't know." She rested her hands on the floor. "I mean, if we never have another child, I'll still be the happiest woman on Mongo." A soft affection overtook her voice. "And if we do have another child, I'll be even happier. I want to experience the work. I want to experience the joys." She let her imagination blossom. "I want to tell our kids to stop taunting each other at the dinner table. I want to listen in on their little conversations. I want to see them get all excited when we go somewhere 'special,' like a movie theater, or a pizza place."
"Well, thanks to you, Mongo now has the equivalent of pizza. Of all your contributions, I actually think that might go down as the greatest."
Jedda spread her arms and shrugged. "At least I accomplished something, right?"
Krotan chuckled, shaking his head as a distant memory came to him.
"What? What are you smiling at?"
"This is what I always dreamed about. Marrying you, living here, and having nice little moments like this."
Jedda blushed as a familiar warmth began filling her heart. They'd been married for years, yet Krotan still took the time to say things like that.
"I just never knew how I would get you to love me. You used to swear up and down that you wouldn't."
She nodded. "And then you gave me reason to. You became gentle. You became compassionate. And that allowed me to see that we had more in common than I'd ever realized."
Krotan rested his hands atop her curled knees. "My other concern was that even if we did get together, you'd end up slipping away."
Jedda giggled while looking a bit curious for a second. "I still sense that from you at times."
Krotan wore a shy smile. He ran his hands down her shins then swept them across her heels, slowly closing his palms around his wife's arches. He loved the intimate softness of her skin.
"You're not going to lose me," said Jedda.
Krotan grinned again. He adored hearing the absolute certainty in her voice when she said things like that.
"And that has nothing to do with the fact that we can't be legally divorced." A calm smile appeared on her face. "We both know that it wouldn't matter even if we could be." After a few seconds, she began fiddling with the piece of gold on her finger. "Take your ring off for a moment."
Krotan silently complied.
Once they'd both removed their wedding bands, Jedda lifted her left palm and placed it against his. "With rings or without, Krotan and Jedda are husband and wife."
They interlocked their fingers, holding their hands together for a little while.
Afterward, they replaced the rings that told people that they belonged to each other, though a good deal of the galaxy was already aware of that.
"So then..." She gritted her teeth and flashed a lively grin. "Let's try adding a new member to this family. Let's bring someone else in on the fun."
Krotan smiled and leaned in closer. "Are we having fun?"
"We're having fun."
"And how exactly do we have our fun?"
"We review the past. We discuss the future. We laugh together. We play together. We share moments. We make love. We have children. We move forward." She beamed. "In short, we do the Jedda-and-Krotan thing."
Krotan looked into her eyes. "If it wasn't for the Jedda-and-Krotan thing, I'd still be a 'super-villain,' and a lonely one at that."
"I wouldn't have my family or my kingdom, and I'd probably be lonely as well." She stroked his hands. "Our lives are better when we're together."
Leaning toward each other, Krotan and Jedda shared a long kiss as the rain fell steadily behind their heads.
Scene Commentary
"I think that you want to give this kid the kind of childhood that you yourself always wanted. I think that you want to be a better father than I ever was."
Rick smirked. "Listen, old man. I'm sure it's fun to go around thinking that everything is about you, but this is actually between me and Monica. It isn't a 'statement' about your performance as a dad."
Flash nodded, but still eyed the table with a somber smile.
"Do I wish that you'd been around more often when I was a kid? Yes. Do I resent you for that now? No." Rick broke eye contact and began to mumble. "I know that you had your reasons for being away all the time. You were off helping people. You were off basking in the thrill of adventure."
The title of the story refers to the various families and legacies we follow throughout. Many of these clans have a lot of drama going on — whether characters are dealing with the past, or trying to build a future. I definitely wanted to include a scene that focused on the history between Flash and Rick. I was glad to have these two sit down and talk things out.
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Chapters
Volume I
Shorly after Jedda leaves the team, Queen Hadea begins a galactic conquest.
Jedda finds herself back on Mongo — and reunited with Prince Krotan.
Despite their affection, Jedda endeavors to counter Hadea's plans.
Seeking to resolve the matter with Hadea, the Defenders begin a climactic mission on Mongo.
Rick enjoys a meaningful reunion.
Volume II
Jedda and Krotan confront their feelings.
Against the wishes of his wife, Krotan grows tempted to pursue a vendetta.
Rick has a difficult time moving on.
In the wake of Krotan's actions, Jedda faces a difficult choice.
Hadea reunites with an old acquaintance.
The Royals of Mongo organize what's supposed to be a friendly feast.
A glimpse into the future on Mongo.
Volume III
Instead of spending a romantic evening together, as Jedda intended, Hadea and Phantom find themselves pursued.
Amid their exploits, Phantom and Hadea discuss personal matters.
Flash visits Ming's prison while thinking of Dale, and Rick learns that a new girl will be joining the team.
A vengeful woman targets Jedda.
The Defenders face an internal crisis.
Will she choose affection or ambition?
Needing to depart Mongo on business, Jedda and Krotan ask Hadea and Phantom to fill in for them temporarily.
Volume IV
As the enormity of his situation sinks in, an anxious Rick finds unexpected comfort.
Hadea continues to counsel Rick by reminding him that his actions have consequences.
Phantom and Hadea are advised to marry.
The acting rulers face a variety of issues on their big day.
The Defenders consider returning to solo work.
Volume V
Krotan and Jedda try to find time for their marriage while tending to duty.
Someone from Jedda's past returns.
Krotan and the guards attempt to defend the kingdom without Jedda.
Krotan and Ming have another confrontation under different circumstances.
Flash and Rick have a personal discussion.
As Rick prepares to leave the team, he and LJ receive a surprise visit.
Volume VI
The new trio embarks on a mission.
The Phantom is left startled by the recent development.
After spending a couple of days with Jedda, Rachel departs for the tme being.
In the future, Vera receives advice and comfort from her mother.
Jedda reflects on the recent years.
In the aftermath of an attack on her land, Hadea seeks help from a mercenary.
Flash is stunned by his discovery on a distant planet.
Volume VII
Hadea makes an announcement that leaves the Phantom unsettled.
The Phantom works to undo his mistakes.
In the future, the Royals of Mongo enjoy quality time together.
Rachel assists LJ and Hadea in very different ways.
Rachel adjusts to her new position awkwardly.
With Rachel and Jedda at her side, Hadea learns more about the history of her kingdom.
Volume VIII
The Phantom plans to propose.
Hadea and the Phantom attempt to work through their issues.
Rachel visits Hadea to discuss new intentions.
The Defenders confront a group of aliens who have descended on Earth, while Ming continues to scheme behind the scenes.
Flash, Rick, and Krotan engage Ming in battle.
Jade reunites briefly with her daughters.
A special occasion has finally arrived.
Volume IX
Rick has a meeting with Zyna that leaves him staggered.
Flash and Rick travel to another planet to investigate news.
Dale begins to set her agenda in motion.
The Royals of Mongo have a lengthy discussion about the past and future.
Dale takes bold steps forward.
Flash and Rick confront Dale to discuss her actions.
Empress Hadea appoints new queens.
Volume X
In the future, the royals have a discussion about politics on Mongo.
LJ and Lothar discuss family affairs.
Jedda views her official government profile to learn where she ranks among Mongoian queens.
Castra and Aura look to put their differences aside.
The Phantom learns more about Hadea's duties.
Volume XI
The Phantom, Hadea, and Rachel depart for a mission in the Bandar village.
Rachel heads off to find Kurt on her own.
Dale provides answers for Rachel.
Jade observes a significant discussion beween Phantom and Kurt.
Phantom learns that the village mission affected Hadea on a personal level.
Volume XII
Jedda and Krotan renew their commitment.
Krotan pampers Jedda as they discuss the future.
Nearly everyone joins the Phantom for a mission via boat.
The group arrives on Raven Island and learns the identity of the opposing team's leader.
Flash, Dale, and Rick spend time with Flash's sister, Commander Abigail Gordon, and her daughter Sara.
Rick and Kristina head off on a late-night mission.
Kristina, Rick, and Hadea confront their personal matters.
Once again, someone lands on Mandrake's yard during a storm.
Volume XIII
A woman arrives in the Netherworld, claiming to be the rightful ruler.
LJ, Rick, and Rachel investigate the Netherworld matter.
Flash and Dale's date is interrupted by news that Rick has been captured, and it's up to Kristina to save him.
While grouped together one night, several people must team up suddenly in order to defend the mansion.
Atascadero discusses her upbringing with Mandrake.
Volume XIV
Soldiers from Atascadero's kingdom come looking for her.
Ata heads to her kingdom to resolve the issues there.
Vera begins learning more about Jedda's past.
In response to the recent events, Hadea makes a controversial decision.
Rick attempts to resolve a certain personal issue.
Rick and his girlfriend decide to go their separate ways.
Flash, Dale, and Rick reunite with Dale's father, as well as Flash's.
Jonathan Gordon becomes overzealous, leading to repercussions.
Flash and Dale chase Ming down.
Kristina bonds with Rick in the aftermath of the events at the base.
Volume XV
In the future, Jedda and Krotan have to teach Vera the value of humility.
In the future, Vera is courted by several boys.
Rick and Kristina become stranded on an island.
Hadea is approached by an old suitor.
Kristina and Rick grow closer while stuck on the island.
Ata and Mandrake discuss their relationship.
Castra and her husband have a talk about their longtime commitment.
Krotan and Jedda discuss the past, and look to the future.
Flash and Dale reaffirm their feelings.
The series finale.
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