Christmas In Another Place
by Becky99
(1)
Season One's "Another Time, Another Place" will go down as one of my all-time favorite Space: 1999 episodes. The only disappointment was in knowing that the John and Helena of this world had a short time together as a married couple before Koenig and Carter's Eagle crashed on the moon, killing the two men. As in "Another Time, Another Love" (also seen in these pages) we join the Alphans, all alive and well, of this world during the holidays ….
She lifted the curtain at the entrance to their home and looked beyond the barren woods. In the distance, through a soft breeze, she could hear the Unsullied and she smiled. It was one of the few fresh water rivers on their home world. They were afraid it might freeze over because the weather was unusually cold this winter. Last year the pond to the west of their settlement froze and it was not nearly as cold. They did not get snow but the chill in the winter months was nearly bone numbing.
Perhaps it was the outcome of whatever disaster destroyed Earth a millennium ago, Kano once suggested. He could be right, Helena thought, and sadly smiled again.
They had been on Earth, a different world than they ever knew, for a little over a year. The New Earthers, as some called themselves, were so busy surviving during Christmas last year, after only a couple of months on the planet, that their holiday merely consisted of sitting around the communal bond fire and drinking cider. Tanya found kernels, much like walnuts, and they roasted them over the fire. They were eatable, containing no toxins, but sadly proved too bitter in their raw form. Still, the effort was appreciated and later, after a good laugh, the nuts were ripened, zested. and brewed into a palatable tea.
Helena also recalled singing. At Sandra's urging, Paul brought out his guitar and festive singing commenced. Except for Morrow, none of them were very good singers but a few rounds of Jingle Bells, Peace on Earth, and Silent Night proved hits within their small community.
The point was they made the time to celebrate, as meager as it was, and the endeavor itself was important. No one left the campfire that night unhappy.
This year, slightly better off, they had a "party" and invited a few of the closer communities to join in, bring food, and the men and women of Earth enjoyed themselves immensely. Helena had not seen Dr. Bob Mathias in months and she nearly wept at the sight of him. Kate and Pam brought them all hand-loomed shawls and socks. Melita and Kelly passed along the fixings for a wonderful salad dressing to go on some of the greens Victor had been growing in his experimental hot-house garden.
The night was highlighted when Sandra, appearing both bashful and proud, announced she was pregnant. Paul Marrow beamed when Carter shook his hand. It was time to begin again and there were enthusiastic claps all around.
Helena looked up at John when Sandra revealed her secret. For a brief moment he appeared alarmed but John quickly put up a face, smiling, and applauded along with everyone else. She knew he was worried. They had talked about it a week earlier while lying in bed one evening. Could they, the Alphans, take care of children? Were they capable this early on? He even asked Helena if he should order continued birth control until they were certain of their future. She told him it was his decision but delay could have an adverse effect on morale. Free of Moonbase Alpha, they all wanted to start again with families and a sense of normalcy – and quickly.
In the end, it did not matter. Sandra was going to have a baby. Soon they would all learn, one way or the other, if the returned Earth people were – indeed – ready.
The party broke up an hour earlier. It was late and a cold airstream was picking up. The last thing any of them needed was to catch a chill. John told Helena to go on ahead as he bid a last fond farewell to their guests. John also mentioned that he wanted to speak with Victor before turning in. Pleased, Helena told John she would wait up for him.
She needed a few minutes to bring out his Christmas present. John was not aware of it, she had hid it well in the "under construction" home Alan was preparing with Regina Kesslan. They were a lovely couple and Helena was happy they decided to marry. And, because Dr. Russell had helped Regina through a sickness when they first came down to their new old world - had actually saved her life - Alan would do pretty much anything to please Helena, including picking up and hiding a rather awkward Christmas present.
Thinking about their pending nuptials, Helena recalled she and John's wedding with a mild smile. It was probably a given that John was going to ask her to cohabitate. They had gotten close over the months on Alpha and when they came back to Earth, had decided to stay once the moon got locked into orbit, she saw the way he was looking at her between working the land and exploring their options. Yet, when the time came she was not actually expecting a marriage proposal.
"I am a throwback." He said during a quiet evening alone, touching her hair and looking into her eyes. "I want a ceremony with Victor officiating, telling us to 'have and to hold' and 'bestest and worstest' ..."
Helena recalled chuckling with him, pleased by the act of old-fashion devotion, and she simply said, "Me too."
Before they knew it they were sharing quarters, the small home they lived in together now, decorating with what paltry things they could salvage from their own personal items … So many treasures had to be left behind because there simply was no more room on their Eagles … but they were happy.
Their personal relationship was passionate, very deep, and warm. Both agreed they had never grasped how lonely they were until they married and realized how wonderful it was to be together. Love was a wonderful thing.
Helena turned, ready to go inside and make a pot of tea, when she spotted John on the outside of Victor's home, at the door speaking with him. The light from inside gave both men a slightly glowing effect. John's robes, tan skin and longer hair giving their leader a nearly Biblical appearance. She supposed they all looked like something out of the scriptural Exodus. How appropriate it was all things considered.
She watched as he shook his friend's hand and turned from the exit of the undersized home. John was holding something and although she could not see exactly what it was Helena supposed it was her holiday gift. She wondered what he had made for her. Nearly all gifts had to be made – although John would be astonished to see what she had procured for him!
Abruptly, Helena backed up into their cozy home. He obviously wanted it to be a surprise and she would not disappoint him.
(More to come ...)