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United At Last..on Jupiter

"Okay troops, I want you to surround the area. We have an invader," Knight Io stated, "You know the drill, you know the area. Careful, I believe there are Jurassic creatures; they might be part of the invaders army. Stay close to one another, it's a dangerous world out there."
The men nodded and saluted Knight Io.
"File out!" The Knight shouted and the army ran out.
They spilled all over the forest of Jupiter.
"We have 3.5 minutes to get whatever it is outta here! The storm is reporting to be more than 1,000 miles from here. It'll be here any minute, hurry!" Knight Io commanded.
"Yes, Sir!" They replied.
One man ran through, he moved red branches out of the way and stopped. terrified.
"Get out of there!" One yelled.
The man just stood terrified at what he saw.
"Get out of there before it wakes up!" The man yelled again.
"Liten! Get out of there!" The man yelled.
The reptile awoke; it's red eye gleaming in hunger at the terrified man. Still the man just stood.
"Run!!" The man yelled to the other troops.
Knight Io was alarmed. She started running for Liten but the giant beast started running for them. The Knight turned around and started yelling at the other troops.
"Retreat! File back!! Report at base! RUN!!!!" The Knight shouted.
The beast gained speed and ate three of her men in one gulp. She could hear their screams as he crunched on their bones. She looked behind her and saw the beast start to run for her. She looked around and all her men were gone. She looked around for something to save her from the attack. She grabbed a large branch that had a sharp pointy end and aimed it in the air. The creature stepped on it, spurting blood everywhere. She got up while the creature moaned and ran for the ship.
"Good-bye sucker!" Io breathed and launched back to her base.
**********The Base********** "Knight Io, I want to speak to you immediately!" The counsel commanded.
"Right away, Sir," She said forcefully.
She dressed herself in black. Her combat boots thumped on the emerald floor. Her black leather coat jingled in the hollow halls. She pushed open the doors. She looked around the emerald transparent table. There was Knight Europa, Knight Ganymede, the voice of Jupiter, and three missing places at the head of the table. Two were the crown encrusted chairs at the head of the table, and the other was the representer of the ruler of the ring, Thebe. Knowing that something was wrong, Io looked to the Voice, Juvian.
"What's wrong here?" She commanded, "What happened? How come the King and Queen aren't here? Where's Thebe?"
"Woa! What's this 20 questions?" Europa laughed.
"This is no laughing matter," The Voice frowned.
"Of course not my lord, but you have to face the fact that none of this can be changed, and if we did act as this as a war then we'll loose our voice to the people. Look the last thing these people want is a war!" Europa replied.
"Doesn't seem like it to me," Ganymede said under his breath.
"What's going on?!?" Io shouted slamming her fist on the table impatiently, "Where are the King and Queen? Where is Thebe? Somebody tell me something! You didn't order me here to listen to a fight I have no business in! What's happened?"
The Voice sighed and shook his head disappointedly, "The King and Queen have been assassinated and Thebe was kidnapped."
"By who? Who kidnapped my brother?" Io shouted.
"You wouldn't like the answer," Europa sighed shaking his head miserably.
"Who?!" Io shouted.
"The people of the moons," The Voice replied.
"Which moons? Which ones? I'll find him! Tell me!" Io shouted.
There was silence, none of them wanted to tell her the truth, or at least none accept the one who rarely speaks.
"All of them," Ganymede replied.
"A-al-all of them?" Io gulped sitting down, stressed. She rested her head in her hands and sat there saying nothing. Letting her forehead rest on the palms of her hands.
"You sure she'll be alright?" Europa said turning to Juvian.
"Sure, she's strong, she'll be fine," The Voice said, "Now the reason why I called you here. We need you three to find the princess."
"Where is she?" Europa asked.
"She's on Earth," The Voice replied.
"On Earth? You expect us to get there and back before the war is over? Jupiter is about 778,412,010 km from the sun! We are out of our minds to go that far and come back in time to save the world!" Europa said out raged.
"I didn't say before the war is over and I didn't say you were going to save the world just yet," The Voice hinted.
"You're going to sacrifice yourself for the people?" Europa asked.
"That's what he's implying!" Io shouted, "We are simply messengers and we can't do anything without word from a higher power. The people killed our higher power and Thebe was the only one who knew the princess' actual location. The people on our moons are looking to destroy the royal family of Jupiter. If they find the princess our lives will be in slavery. Do you want that Europa? Or are you willing to help our world?" Europa gulped, "Do you know the location of the princess?"
"Do you?" Io threw back at him.
"Am I supposed to?" Europa asked.
"Look, we shouldn't be fighting," The Voice, said, "I will act as bait. I will tell them that the princess is here somewhere. From then on it will be a plan I cannot tell even you. Don't worry Io, Thebe will be found. I will try to find the other Knights. Some are already dead, trying to save the crowns."
"But, you're an old man, you know the ancient rules, the measure, the act of the planets!" Europa shouted.
"I will only be in your way. I am already dying and I've always wanted to do something for our great leaders," Juvian sighed.
"Voice Juvian," Europa shook his head.
He stood up and walked silently out. Ganymede stood up and patted Io's shoulder. Io stood up and punched the door open, angry. Ganymede decided asked the Voice a question.
"What about transportation, we don't have it," Ganymede said.
"Yes, you do. The ancient emerald crystal vessel. It was used for the King and Queen," The Voice replied.
"But--," Ganymede started.
"Would you let the princess ride in anything less informative?" The Voice asked seeming a little less insinuating.
"No," Ganymede replied and ran to catch up with Io.
"Why Thebe, Why? What did he do to the people? All he wanted was peace! It should have been me!" Io shouted.
"No, Io, I think that Thebe, Europa, Voice Juvian and I would be very upset if you were taken from us," Ganymede said.
"You don't say anything and every time you do it's something inquisitive or something incredibly heart wrenching, why?" Io asked.
"I don't...I don't know," Ganymede stuttered looking around nervously.
"Forget it, let's just get the princess and finish this stupid war," Io said.
"Do you suppose we're aloud to go fishing?" Europa asked.
He looked at Io and gulped, "Just joking!"
They moved into the ship. It was very fancy. It had four rooms.
"Who do you think the other room was for?" Europa asked sticking his head into the room.
He walked in nosily and picked up a picture, "Hey, this is mine!"
"Perhaps maybe the crowns thought that you'd marry the princess," Io teased.
"And that you'll marry Ganymede!" Europa laughed, teasingly.
Io snuffed and walked away blushing.
"Europa 1, Io nothing," Europa chuckled, dusting his nails on his uniform.
Ganymede stopped into a room and looked at the pictures around a desk. He picked up one of the Queen and King.
"They were like my parents," He whispered and paused, "I wish they were still alive."
Io saw a tear stream down his face. Io knew he didn't have any parents. None of the knights had parents. The King loved his orphans. He also loved his daughter. But when the moon was in trouble he sent his only child to help protect the moon. Since then he was unable to see her. He kept pictures of his daughter to remind him of how much he loved her. After the King passed away, not days ago, Europa thought it'd be in his best interest to keep these photos, just in case he might have to give them to her. But everyone knew what his intentions were. He admired Princess Jupiter. Io sighed and tried to remember her parents. Her parents were killed. She remembered them like it was just yesterday when they were murdered in their blacksmith shop. The King had these people banished from Jupiter, but the Queen insisted on Capital Punishment. Since then Io had been staying with the Crowns (King and Queen) as a messenger to Earth, or Satellite with her brother, Thebe. Ganymede was taken when he was just a small boy, a baby. He didn't remember who he was, so long ago when he met Io she named him, Ares, which means Ares. She always believed that Ganymede would be an excellent fighter. Europa on the other hand was orphaned when he escaped torture. He watched his parents die in a blazing fire. Since then he'd move place to place, looking for the right home. The Crowns found him, dirty and stinky. They cleaned him up and gave him a job as the first messenger, Europa. Europa is the oldest. Ganymede wiped his tears away and looked up to see Io staring at him. She turned around and left. Ganymede walked out.
"Hephaestus," Ganymede said under his breath, "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Io asked turning around slowly.
"For seeing that," Ganymede sighed, "I don't mean to do that."
"Don't be worried about that, Ares. It happens alright?" Io said.
"Oooowie it's the love birds!!!" Europa laughed and started making kiss noises.
"Shut up, Manannan!" They both said in unison.
"And they talk at the same time too!! Hey maybe when we get to Earth I can pick myself up a certificate for marriage and get you two together like Beauty and The Beast, only you'd have to be the Beauty, Ganymede, she ain't no terrier-loven girl, if ya know what I mean!"
"Shut up! Shut up, shut up!" Io shouted, "Let me ask you something, do you like your toes?"
"Well, it depends, cause sometimes I wish they were flowers cause the smell is overwhelming, if you know what I mean," Europa laughed.
"Just, give me a straight answer!" Io shouted.
"Well, yes," Europa smiled.
"Then shut up or you'll be missing them like leap year!" Io shouted.
"I don't really miss leap year! I just like to say that every now and then to keep you guys on your toes! Get it toes!! Ah ha ha ha ha ha!" Europa laughed.
Io left the room in a huff and found the Kings room. She lay on the bed and Ganymede walked in.
"He doesn't mean that," Ganymede said quietly.
"What?" Io said louder.
"He doesn't mean that," Ganymede repeated looking to his feet.
Io sat up and walked over to Ganymede.
"Ares, you don't have to look down when you're talking to me. I'm not going to hurt you, ok? I'm not the street urchins and the buggers that hurt you before. I'm your friend, Ares. I helped name you," Io smiled.
"I'm sorry, I forget that sometimes. I know I hardly say anything," Ganymede said.
"Why don't you say much? Your ideals are just as good as mine, sometimes even better than mine," Io smiled.
Ganymede looked at her.
"You have a pretty smile," Ganymede smiled.
"Whoa, I've never seen you do that," Io said astonishingly.
"Do what?"
"Smile."
"Oh, I've never seen you smile either."
"I've been through a lot lately. I'm so worried about Thebe. He might be in grave danger
and it's all my fault!" Io cried.
"How is it your fault?"
"I should have kept an eye on him. He's my twin brother he was too weak to begin with."
"He wouldn't be the speaker of the ring if he was as weak as you say, don't you think?"
"Yeah, you're right."
Ganymede wrapped his arms around her in a hug and sobbed.
"You're crying. Why are you crying?" Io asked. "Life is so unfair to you and me. Why? What have we done?"
"We were born unhappy. That's the way it's made for us. We have to learn to take it, Ares. Otherwise we end up sorrowful for the rest of our lives."
"Hephaestus, I want to tell you something, promise me you won't be alarmed and hate me for any reason?" Ganymede began.
"Go--" Io began.
"--Hey guys they have wool in here! We can...make..." Europa saw Ganymede and Io hugging and was stopped abruptly.
"It's not what you think party boy," Io frowned still in Ganymede's arms.
"Then what is it?" Europa asked.
"Comforting," Io corrected, "He's unhappy."
"How'd you know? He never talks!" Europa chuckled.
"Suppose when we arrive on Earth we can use our real names instead of our satellite names?" Io changed the subject.
"Or we can use them as last names," Europa suggested. "Good idea," Io said sarcastically.
"I'd be Manannan Europa, you'd be Hephaestus Io, and he'd be Ares Ganymede," Europa said.
"Now the only problem is creating a birth certificate," Io said.
"A what?" Europa asked.
"A piece of paper that initiates where we come from," Io defined.
"Oh," Europa said, "Now back to your love business. Leave the fake I. Ding to me!"
Europa left. Ganymede looked down to Io with a smile. "Now what is it that you were going to say to me?" Io walked away grabbing her housecoat and towel.
"Nothing that can't wait," Ganymede replied, "I'll be leaving now."
"Bye," Io waved and walked into the bathroom to have a hot shower.
"Where's your lover?" Europa asked, "Oh yeah, you don't talk."
"Don't be that way with me Europa," Ganymede sternly said.
"Sorry, sometimes seeing you two together makes me all goofy. Makes me wanna jump and do a highland dance in tights in the middle of winter," Europa said.
"That's terrible!" Ganymede said.
"Not really. I feel so confident that I could do those things without worry," Europa sighed and went to his knitting.
"What are you doing?" Ganymede asked.
"Knitting," Europa answered.
"No I mean, why?"
"Then why didn't you ask why? I'm doing it because I'm bored and I didn't bring my love interest with me. Actually you could say we're going to go and get her," Europa joked.
"You really are confident that Lady Jupiter is going to fall dead for you?" Ganymede asked.
"No. I'm hideous, but at least there's the thought. Actually 9 times out of 10 she'll fall for you handsome. So don't get too attached to Io. I know what you were going to say to her. Don't say it my friend. If you refuse to marry Lady Jupiter she could order your death or worse off Io's death. Lady Jupiter holds the marbles of our future my friend."
"Are you telling me not to love Io?"
"I'm not telling you, I'm suggesting. Keep your love life open for the Lady. If I was a she mobile I'd fall for ya lover boy,"
"Then I will refuse to speak."
"She could make you."
Ganymede kept silent until the shower facets stopped. He waited 20 minutes and knocked on Io's door.
She let it open and Ganymede walked in.
"I need to know something," He said calmly.
"Anything, what?" Io quickly said.
"Do you love me?"
"As a friend, of course. I've known you ever since I can remember. It's like we're siblings."
"Ok, that's all I needed to know."
Ganymede left. Io frowned but then stopped dead in her tracks.
"Why did he ask me that?" She whispered.
She ran out into the hallway and yelled, "Why'd you ask me that?"
"Because," He started to yell then lowered his voice turning around the corner and in a hush tone, "I needed to know."
He turned around disappearing around the corner again.
"Sir Europa, we are starting the Engines now. Are you and your ship mates ready?" A man from the deck said on the intercom.
"I thought we were already gone," Europa replied.
"We're starting the Engines now," The man warned.
"All is a go," Io replied from behind Europa.
"Yes Ma'am!" The man saluted and went right to work.
"I guess he doesn't know you don't like to be called that," Europa sighed.
"Have you ever met the Princess?" Io asked.
"No, but I'm sure she's sweet," Europa smiled, pulling out a picture of the Princess.
"I wouldn't judge by pictures, she might have aged. Earth holds different gases than our planet. She might be old and wrinkly like Juvian," Io said.
"Aw, you're just jealous because her beauty outweighs yours," Europa sighed looking at the picture.
Io grabbed the picture and tore it up.
"Sorry, that's what I get for being such a jerk. I didn't mean to say that, really," Europa shook trying to run away from Io's intensive stare.
"I won't steep as low as you did. I have a lot of honor in the Princess. She is my heroine. I will not listen to you insult me because of your obsessions! I won't insult the Princess but state what I think to be true and in the planets best interest," Io stated.
"Ok then I guess I should tell you that if the Princess is the ruler than there has to be a man beside her. Seems how there are only two guys on this ship and one of them is as ugly as sin we both know that Ganymede might be her choice to wed. Ganymede and I were having this talk. He was most upset though. You see he's had this crush on you since he was 10, Io."
"What? And you told him to blow me off??"
"I considered it."
"No, you don't ever say that to someone who's had a crush for 10 years!"
"How would you know how it feels?"

TO BE CONTINUED.....