Can't Get Away

April Eagle sighed as she leaned against the railing of the balcony. After Nemesis had been defeated, the Star Sheriffs had been disbanded. Fireball had gone back to the racing world, Colt back to Planet Texas as a ranch hand, and Saber had gone back to his family on the Highlands planet. April, being an Eagle, had stayed on in Calvary Command forces, becoming a sort of elite trooper.
But she was the only one... And she was lonely.

"Arra, Saber!" called Stephen Rider, as he thrust forward with his sword. "Do ye think that just because ye're a big hero in the lowlands, ye can neglect sword training?" With that, he used his sword to send his son's flying through the air. Saber held his hands up. "You beat me...again." Saber sounded a bit displeased with himself. He'd gotten spoiled while a Star Sheriff.

Stephen noted the dejected tone in his only child's voice, and laid a hand on Saber';s shoulder. "I was only joking, Saber," he said kindly. "Ye just need to get your hand back in, and I'm sure ye'll be beating this old man to the ground." Saber laughed a bit. "There you go again, Father, selling yourself short. I think you do that so Mother and I tell you that you're not old after all!" Saber teased. Stephen threw his head back and laughed. "That's my boy! I was beginning to think ye'd lost your spirit, laddie!"

Saber stood and looked up at the sky, laughter leaving his deep blue eyes. They looked sad and thoughtful as he murmured softly, loud enough to be heard only by himself, "I haven't lost my spirit...I just left a part of it behind..."

Over the next few months, Saber resumed the aristocratic life he'd led before Outriders had disrupted it. Swordfighting with his father-who'd been right, he did begin to improve again-hunting with both impetuous Scotty, his terrier, and intense Bran, his wolf-like hound who loved the chase. Riding over the countryside, talking to villagers, farmers and rangers who tipped their hats to their lord's only son and called him 'young master'. As a boy, they taught him a lot; how to shear sheep, the secrets of the forest and field, how to create fire without anything but sticks. And he loved them for it, and was glad to be back.
But it wasn't enough.

His mother, Kaerin, noticed it first. One night, as she watched Saber head for bed, she pulled her husband close to her and hissed, "Stephen! I need to speak with you!"

"Eh?" Stephen said sleepily. "What is it, lassie-me-love?"

"It's Saber. There's something wrong with him..."

"What ye be talking about, woman?" asked Stephen, irritated. "There's nary a thing wrong with the lad. He's just a little tired, and maybe sulking a bit over my victory during our match today." Stephen smirked.

"Idiot," Kaerin said half-fondly, half-annoyedly. "Can you not see that Saber is seriously depressed? He still carries scars from the war. He still carries memories. Furthermore, o master swordsman," she added sarcastically, "He won the match yesterday. You two great gallumphing blade-crazy males are evenly matched."

"Hmmpph!" Stephen snorted. "Women!" But the next morning, he observed his son with new eyes. It was true what Kaerin said. Worriedly, Stephen noted how low Saber's head hung, the lack of luster in the blue eyes so like his own. When he talked, you always had the feeling that the twenty-one-year-old wanted to talk about something else, but couldn't confide in you.

He seemed to regain a spark of energy during his fencing matches, but it was nothing compared to before. Fondly, Stephen recalled a small figure dancing before him, making clumsy but enthusiastic thrusts with his small rapier. Saber'd always loved the swords...

FLASHBACK:

Eight-year-old Saber Rider furiously kept up the assault, trying to ignore the burning in his arms and legs. His blue eyes, hidden behind the mask, were blinded with sweat that dripped from his blond bangs. He...would...not...LOSE!

Stephen watched his son pressed his attack harder and harder. He wouldn't be able to keep this up for very long... already, Stephen could see the little boy's chest heaving, how his small arms and legs trembled slightly. He gave a silent sigh. He had agreed to train Saber in fencing as a birthday present. Since Saber's eighth birthday, two months ago, he'd been up at the crack of dawn, teaching and fighting with his son.
Saber had been ecstatic when Stephen had presented him with a little blade to be used for training. Ever since he could walk, he'd toddled after Stephen whenever he'd put on his white fencing gear, loving to watch the intricate dance of flesh and steel. Stephen was sure that someday, Saber would live up to his name and become a great swordfighter. But now he was only a little boy; talented for his age, sure, but not so good as to beat him... He'd let Saber wear himself out first, then disarm him. Easy.

Saber decided that after spending several hours in the woods, thrusting at a target with a stick, he should have been a little better than this. But the thing was, targets carved into tree trunks never moved. Saber fell back a pace, breathing hard. He would try a new strategy. He painted an image of a target onto the vital points of his father's body, then launched at them, just like in the woods. Of course, Stephen blocked. He was pleased that Saber had taken the time to strategize. With a strong sidewards thrust, Saber made a move that would have disarmed any opponent...if Saber's strength was that of an adult, not of a small child.

Stephen hung on to his blade, though a massive shock was sent through his muscles. With a start, he noticed that his sword was now halved. The main part of the blade had been sent spinning into another part of the room. His estimation of his son's skills rose a notch. <BR>
He noticed that Saber was glaring at him. No, not at him, at his sword. Without another word, Saber ran off the mat and took another sword. He ran back to his father and offered it, hilt-first. Stephen shook his head in bewilderment. Saber was so very intense about swordfighting...

END FLASHBACK...

Yes, it was evident that Saber was missing something... But what?

That night, he drew his son to one side. "Saber...what's wrong?" Saber replied automatically, "Nothing's wrong, Father."

"Arra, dinna give me that answer, Saber!" Stephen said, annoyed. "Do ye take me for a fool? Only a blind man could fail to see there is something wrong. Ye're sad, ye mope, ye have not a spark of the energy I know used to live in me son. Your mother noticed it first..."

Saber seemed to cave in on himself. "I'm sorry, Father. I never meant to worry you or mother..."

Stephen patted his son's shoulder kindly. "Ah, dinna blame yourself, lad! We just want to help..."

Saber bit his lip before starting. "When I was a Star Sheriff, I used to dream of the day when I could come back to the castle, and just live like I used to. Of course, I never talked about wanting to come back with Fireball and the others...I was the leader; if I showed any signs of discontent, they'd have picked up on it. But I still dreamed about it...

But now that I'm here...it just doesn't seem...enough."

He looked back at his father, waiting to see if he'd gone too far. But Stephen's eyes neither condemned nor were impatient. They were merely...understanding. Saber plunged on.

"It's just...I've fought for big things, had something grand and beautiful and noble to fight for, to live for... to be part of. Defending freedom...that sounds rather cheesy, but that was what I was doing. I thought that being with you, and mother, and being in the Highlands would replace that purpose...but it didn't. I'm just restless, I don't feel like I have a place anymore..."

Stephen stepped up to Saber's side. "It's okay, Saber. I was young once, I had dreams and ambitions too...and I want them to live on in you."

"What?" Startled, Saber swung around and began to stammer. "I...I don't understand..."

Stephen chuckled wryly. "Ah, me boyo, need you ask?" When Saber stared at him uncomprehendingly, Stephen sighed and continued, "Me good friend Admiral Eagle just called. He wants to know if a certain young Highlander would like to become an elite trooper for Calvary Command...help in stopping terrorists and helping natural disaster victims and so on. I told him yes."

"You...you..." Saber stood, rooted to the ground.

"Well, go on!" Stephen elbowed Saber in the ribs. "Your shuttle leaves at 8:00 AM tomorrow. Ye'd better go pack. And after ye pack, we'll be having a farewell dinner..."

Saber just gaped at him, mouth open. A smile slowly split his face, as the meaning of Stephen's words penetrated the fog surrounding his mind. "Thanks, Father!" He hugged Stephen hard. As Stephen watched his son bolt upstairs, he mouthed to Kaerin, 'Mission accomplished.'

April was dressing for the day when her comlink beeped. Struggling into a sleeveless white sweater, she turned it on. Her father's voice boomed in her ear, "Good morning, April!"

"Morning, daddy," she replied. "What's up?"

"You have a new teammate. Meet him at my office at ten o'clock."

"What?" April demanded. "Who is it? Why wasn't I notified?" But the only answer to her questions was a busy tone.

After scarfing down a hasty breakfast, she bolted to her father's office. She arrived at 9:48, and to her great annoyance, Admiral Eagle left orders for her to stay in the waiting room until exactly 10:00. By 9:56, she was pacing restlessly. At ten o'clock exactly, she barreled into Admiral Eagle's office. "Who is the new teammate? Why wasn't I informed about this? Is he qualified?" she demanded. "Whoa, whoa!" Admiral Eagle laughed, holding his hands up to stop her ranting. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" On cue, a figure stepped from the shadows he'd been hiding in. April fell silent, her sky-blue eyes taking in but not registering the familiar black armor. "Saber Rider?" she said incredulously.

"Hullo, April," Saber said cheerfully. "I'm your new teammate! Funny, isn't it?" His accent seemed to have grown more crisp and foreign in the four months he'd spent at home.

"Saber has just signed on to Calvary Command forces," Admiral Eagle's deep baritone boomed. "I'm trusting you to take this newbie around his..and your...new duties." He was smiling as he said it.

"Yes sir," April said, giving him a salute.

"Good," Admiral Eagle grunted. "Dismissed!"

As Saber and April walked down the hall to the mess hall, Saber asked innocently, "So...what did I miss?" April hit him playfully on the shoulder. "Idiot... don't worry, I'll brief you during lunch...your treat!"

"Huh?" Saber sputtered. "I don't remember agreeing...that's not fair..."

"Of course that's fair," snorted April. "While you lazed around the Highlands for over four months I've been working hard here at Headquarters."

Saber grumbled under his breath, then sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Can't argue with that..."

April laughed. She didn' feel so lonely anymore.

E-mail the author: CyberWolf ( wolf@pacific.net.ph )