It took Stormy a few minutes to make certain her spacesuit was air tight. She jet packed over to the open outer hatch of Ril’s ship. The hatch closed, air pumped in, and the inner hatch opened. She removed her spacesuit and found herself face to face with Ril.
His face expressed surprise and shock at the same time. Well, why shouldn’t Ril be surprised to see her? She was Stormy, Princess Storm, she of the magic weather lands of Mystia.
“Follow me, quickly, to the control room, Princess Storm,” he commanded. “Take the acceleration couch on your right. Strap down. I will blast us out of this area in a hurry.”
Ril wasn’t joking. Stormy gritted her teeth as G-Forces attempted to smash her body into pulp. There was no gradual building up of space speed; just full throttle and get the hell out of the area, and none too soon as she found out mere minutes later when the blinding brightness of her exploding ship caused her to close her eyes and scream.
It was all over in a split second. Her ship was completely gone and miracle of miracles Ril’s ship was still in one piece and still accelerating away from the area.
Stormy breathed easier when Ril began tapping buttons and his ship eased back to a speed that simulated normal gravity. He turned to her.
“Now, Princess Storm,” he said in a scolding paternal voice that was rapidly losing its haunted tones. “You must tell me what you did to cause your ship to explode. Atomic piles never fail unless tampered with. Be so kind as to give me an explanation and now.”
Ril’s words and tone angered her. She felt her mouth pucker into a pout as fighting heat coursed through her body. Well, she would most certainly show this gorgeous hunk of manhood that he couldn’t talk that way to her and get away with it. After all, he never had, until now.
She doubled up her right fist and gave Ril a round house right to his left eye. It was a hard knockout punch that jarred him free of his acceleration couch and to the ship’s deck. “Damn you,” she shouted, leaning over him and screaming into his face, “I don’t actually know what I did to my ship. It exploded, okay? And you rescued me, okay? Besides, Mr. High and Mighty, I don’t have to tell you anything,” she said making sure there was still enough anger in her voice to let Ril know that she was not one to be stomped on by his oversized space boots. Then her voice softened. “But I will say that I love you, Lance, in spite of the fact that you’ve never told me who you actually are. You’re the Phantom of the Spaceways. I love you, and I’ll love you forever, so there, and what are you going to do about it? A kiss from you would be awful nice. Better yet, we could…”
The Phantom of the Spaceways showed no surprise on his face. He merely looked at her and said nothing. Stormy did. “Lance has a scar on his left shoulder. You were wounded on your left shoulder while fighting the Tarels. Is that just a coincidence? Of course it isn’t. You are Sir Rilfred of the Loch, the mightiest of all King Arthur’s knights. And I might add that your face is extremely handsome. I am seeing your real face at last, aren’t I, Lance? I hope so. You’re a dead bang gorgeous man.”
Sir Rilfred of the Loch smiled. “Yes, you are seeing me as I actually am. Not my Ril face or even my Lance one. Your boarding my ship automatically changed me back to my actual appearance. Why, I know not. Perhaps the curse that befell me so many centuries past knew of your love for me even before you declared it. You’re very clever, Princess Storm. You were never to know my true identity.”
“Why? Your curse said that you would search forever until someone holds you dear. That’s me, Lance. I love you as Lance, and I fell in love with your Ril image the moment I viewed your spaceship Andromeda One adventure. And then I saw you again when you saved an entire world population from perishing during a star nova. I fell in love with what I thought were two different men, and yet I never gave it a thought as to how I could possibly do that. Now I know why. You are Lance, and you are Sir Rilfred of the Loch. “
Sir Rilfred nodded, then laughed. “I’m aware that a few of my quests have been recorded as space legends, thanks to Commander Marlo. That you have viewed a few makes me truly happy. They have shown you that I love you for all eternity, Princess Storm. But I am immortal, and you would be gone from my life in just a few short years. I finally realized that my relationship with all the Stormy Weathers in the universe should only be temporary, and that love must not happen between us.”
“But subdued feelings bordering on love occurred between Lance and me. I could feel that you felt love for me, but you wouldn’t let it charge out into full bloom, nor would you yell it to the universe. How do you explain that? Temporary relationship, you say? Does that mean you were going to leave me? And are you certain you’re still immortal? I love you, and that must mean your quest has ended. Maybe your immortality has also ended.”
“Possibly, though I think not. The quest upon me is of two fold nature. I am to live forever, and I am to assist those in need of help. As for leaving you, I have tried to do so many times. But as you can see I have not been successful in what I feel has to be done. Somehow, my Princess Storm, I must break the ties you have upon my heart and leave you.”
Stormy was quiet as Ril’s words seared her soul. She couldn’t lose him. She couldn’t! Her mind talked to her. Think of something Stormy. Think! You cannot lose him. Sir Rilfred is your forever love. “Sir Rilfred if you are still immortal, could I possibly become immortal? I want that to happen. I want to be with you forever.”
Sir Rilfred thought for a moment before frowning. “I don’t know, though it does sound possible. To have you forever is what I truly desire. I do know the Grand Wizard and King Arthur fully approved of my Forever Quest of helping people. Perhaps they would also approve of my having an immortal companion.”
“For our sake, Ril, I must become an immortal. Is there a way for us to find out how that can be accomplished?”
“Such knowledge is known only by the Grand Wizard and King Arthur. And at the moment, I feel they are beyond reach to me.”
“Then, my true love let us enjoy the time we have together.”
In one swift movement, Sir Rilfred of the Loch was on his feet and caressing her. As in a perfect dream that one would desire to never awaken from, Princess Storm, She of the magic weather lands of Mystia, found herself enclosed in his steel hard muscular arms and being completely overcome by his closeness and his male animal scent that was so familiar to her. But now that their eternal love for each other had finally brought them together through time and space, his scent was so much more overwhelmingly marvelous to breathe in. It made her breathless and warm.
“I have an idea,” Ril whispered in her ear, “since you now know my true identity. Perhaps because of that, maybe, just maybe making love to you in the way I have always desired will make you immortal. I realize now that I could never part from you. Through all eternity I have loved you, and beyond all eternity, I will always love you.”
Stormy was near to being overcome by Ril’s words of love for her, and the gentleness in his voice as he said them. As Lance, he was merely Lance, aloof, and always leaving her for days at a time. As Ril, he said what was in his heart. She moved her lips to his mouth and their kiss was fiercely hot and seemingly forever long. It lasted all the way to Ril’s private quarters and through the glorious night.
Chapter Seven
Stormy stirred. She became aware of bed covers tickling her nose non-stop, as if attempting to tell her she was in bed but Sir Rilfred of the Loch was not. Panic slammed her. Was he gone again? And this time gone forever? No, of course not, Stormy Weathers. You’re being silly. You’re onboard his spaceship, and so is he. She stretched and tossed the bed covers to one side.
She heard a voice. It was his.
“Stormy, wake up, you sleepy head.”
“I’m awake. What is it, darling?”
“Come up to the control deck. We have guests.”
“I’ll be right up, just as soon as I make myself presentable.”
It was a quick shower. Rummaging around
in Ril’s clothing, she managed to jury rig a halfway decent outfit. It was loose fitting to be sure, but it covered her in the right places. She made the bed, walked into Ril’s private quarters and glanced at Excalibur. The sword was deeply embedded in its solid block of granite.
Stormy began to itch with the desire to grab its handle and pull. Should she? Sure why not? Because nothing would happen, that’s why not. Only King Arthur and Ril could pull the sword free. But, Stormy, if you could free the sword would that prove anything? Maybe it would prove you were worthy of being immortal, and being with Ril forever. Would it? He’s waiting for you Stormy. Get to the control deck.
It was mind boggling numb to Stormy’s body and soul. The Avenger was parked inside the hanger deck of her father’s spaceship world. Two men were standing by Sir Rilfred. They were staring at her and smiling. One was dressed as a wizard, the other as a king. She was face to face with the Grand Wizard and King Arthur!
“Can you not speak, lass? In your entire life, when have you ever been silent?” inquired the Grand Wizard. His smile was generous, his hair a forest fire red. He was Stephen Weathers!
“How…” was all that Stormy could gasp out before the awe surging through her body numbed her vocal cords.
“It’s all quite simple for me to understand, now that I have my full memory back. It happened the moment you, Stormy, and Sir Rilfred, finally came together and still had undying love for each other. Lass, what I never told you, but now I shall, is that through my potions and machines I have searched long and tirelessly for all of my daughters, wherever they may be in the vast universe. Quite often I’ve even met myself, though my memory at the time had not been as fully restored as it now is, nor was my appearance, which is why Sir Rilfred failed to recognize me during the Magara sun nova episode.”
“You’re the Grand Wizard…”
“Well, yes, lass. I am, indeed the Grand Wizard.”
Stormy was numb with reality, unable to think clearly. She mumbled, “Your shipworld…”
“It was once the Land of Mystia until I slowly transformed it.”
Anger became a lukewarm firebrand, location unknown, in Stormy’s body. It blazed to white hot as she vehemently declared, “You have not been truthful, Father! You must have known all along that Lance was the Spaceways Phantom.”
Stephen Weather’s complexion paled with concern. “I have merely held back the complete truth because at times my cloudy mind knew not what the true happenings were and what the false ones were. There were many times when I did not know the exact whereabouts of Sir Rilfred because of my failing memory. In my search for him, I found legends about him. And I finally managed to bring you two together, only to learn that you were already together. How very astounding it was for me to all of a sudden realize Sir Rilfred was actually Lance, your love interest.”
He gazed at Sir Rilfred. “I knew not of your present disguise, Sir Rilfred, or should I call you Lance?”
“Call me what you so desire, Grand Wizard. I have had many names.”
King Arthur gave forth a hardy chuckle. “Verily thou hast had a most long and the most noble of all quests, Sir Rilfred of the Loch. Now ‘tis time it be no more.” Gazing at the Grand Wizard, he said, “So what say you to this soon to be mortal man as you lift the immortality quest from his shoulders?”
Stormy’s voice sang with authority and command. “You will say nothing, Father. Sir Rilfred of the Loch is not to be granted mortality. Instead you will grant me immortality.”
Stephen Weathers stared at his daughter for all of a minute before finding his voice. “Are you certain, lass? To live forever can be a blessing. It can also be a curse to those who seek only a quiet, peaceful existence. You in your short life have quested for many things, and you have fire in your soul for adventure and longevity. But—”
“Listen to your father, my Princess Storm. I will continue my quest, for I have received a message from an agent informing me of the space pirate base I have long been seeking. It is located in the Space Tortugas, the worst section of outer space in the entire Milky Way. For me to take you into such a dangerous situation would be unforgivable. I must journey there alone.”
“Not without me,” shouted Stormy as she turned and ran from the control deck.
Stormy crashed through a compartment door and back into Lance’s private quarters. She ran to the Sword in the Stone, grabbed Excalibur’s handle and pulled. “Come forth, damn you.” She abruptly felt energy charging through her, and as the sword literally jumped from the stone, she raised it up over her head and laughed.
Racing back to the control deck, she faced Sir Rilfred, her father, and King Arthur. She pointed Excalibur at each of them. “I am Princess Storm. See for yourself that even as a mortal human I have enough power within me to draw forth King Arthur’s sword. I will join with Sir Rilfred of the Loch. We must be together forever. I command you, Grand Wizard, to grant my request. You will bestow upon me immortality, at once. Please, Father.”
King Arthur smiled. He began chuckling as he faced Stephen Weathers. “I would say you had best grant your daughter her wish, lest you no longer desire to have peace in your family. You know Guinevere tried to pull Excalibur from the stone countless times and couldn’t. It frustrated her so much she ran off with that milksop Lancelot.”
Stephen Weathers sighed. “I told you a thousand times, perhaps more than a thousand, not to marry Guinevere. I told you that no good would come from such an ill-gotten alliance. So what did you do? Like the young pup you were, and still are, you married Guinevere.” He looked at Stormy. “And as for you, lass, well…so be it.”
King Arthur and the Grand Wizard watched as The Avenger blasted off for the Space Tortugas. Onboard were two immortals, Princess Storm, she of the magic weather lands of Mystia, and Sir Rilfred of the Loch.
About the Author
If you read enough of Wayne Greenough’s stories you might correctly assume he is a collector of comic book memorabilia, radio programs from the ‘40’s and that he is a little around the bend and should wear a tight fitting white coat. Yes, he should.
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