This is a "what if" story and does not wish to infringe on the copyright holders of Space: 1999.
(1)
He had come to see her, leery but knowing she would grasp why he stopped her the way he did. She mildly responded to John Koenig's presence, as if saying "Oh, there you are.", when he entered Medical Center. Yet, she was guarded, maybe a bit too unruffled considering the substantial pain she was in. No matter how many hypodermic pain injections a man or woman takes, a laser blast to the shoulder is excruciating and does not leave them unaffected, physically or emotionally.
Helena Russell was now looking at him with different eyes. The warmth they shared from the past weeks and months on Monnbase Alpha, the empathetic and unspoken familiarity, was not the same as it was before he returned from Arra's spaceship. "We've pulled through another one." She surmised, appearing nearly fatigued by the notion, "Congratulations."
John Koenig sat carefully and slowly in a chair at her bedside, gauging her demeanor. "Helena, you know I had to do it." He murmured quietly, leaning forward and sincere. Now that Alpha was on her way, moving further into deep space, he could break away from Main Mission and visit his wounded loved one. If only she knew how difficult this was for him.
She nodded and looked a little away from him. "You warned me."
"I did but I'd do anything to take what happened back, Helena. Tell me you understand." He nearly pleaded.
"I do." She was sitting up in the bed, looking well, despite the wrapped wound to her shoulder, the damage placed there by himself. She then paused and spoke simply, "You shot me, John. I know why you had to do it. And regardless the threat, the fear, the knowing that Alpha and everyone aboard her was in peril … I never believed for a minute, not a single second, that you could purposely shoot that laser at … me."
It had been a nightmare.
"Don't make me do it, Helena!" he implored, "If it is between you and the other three hundred lives here on Alpha …" He allowed the warning to hang in the air even as his hand, the one that held the lethal weapon, trembled. She stared at him appearing at a loss, both worried and defiant. Only seconds passed but it seemed an eternity as he watched her, sensing her hand moving to the button.
He aimed instinctively and pressed the trigger on his gun.
The scream as the laser blast met Helena Russell's left shoulder was nearly deafening. Smoke arose from her uniformed shoulder as Paul Morrow caught her and, with Victor's help, carefully sat Helena on the steps that lead up to Commander Koenig's office.
Koenig felt his heart skip a beat. Dear God, what had he done?
"You Monster!" Sandra Benes cried. Never had an ill-word come from her mouth regarding her Commander but the young data analyst could not, during this moment of stress and terror, suppress her emotions. "How could you?"
"Easy!" Alan Carter, also wearing pajamas and looking as deluded as their Commander, backed up Koenig. His own gun was aimed at his friends. "We don't want this! Arra will save us all!" he promised, his Australian accent growing thick with expectation.
No one could believe it. They all watched, in stunned silence, unable to say more than what Sandra already imparted. If Koenig was willing to shoot Dr. Russell, who he was obviously very close to, possibly even loved, he would not hesitate to kill any of them!
And if he didn't Carter certainly would!
"It's too late!" Bergman called at Helena's side, slowly standing as he looked horrified up at the big screen. The moon was closing in on the planet and they all knew that everything they had brought with them from Earth was now at an end.
The Commander and Alan Carter had signed their death warrants!
A crackle, pop, and a buzz was heard. The lights dimmed and the air pressure about Moonbase Alpha gave the influence of compressing and holding.
Like Bergman, John looked from the visibly pained, slipping into shock, and terrified Helena, up to the Big Screen. He had believe Arra! How could she betray him, all of them, now?
But then the moon and alien world touched and the planet disappeared. Alpha was free and safe to continue with her journey!
With all the rushing about to get Alpha back into working condition, Koenig, exhausted, stunned, and disoriented, heard Victor call to Medical Center, ordering a stretcher for Helena Russell.
He had every right to do what he did. It was the correct thing to do. It saved everyone's life. Yet … yet …
"The very idea that you possessed the ability to kill me – the circumstances not withstanding – stays with me, John. I wish I could say that I am bigger than that. I sincerely yearn for us to go back to the way it was, with us getting to know one another, learning and caring for one another, but I think that is impossible now ..."
He heard her speaking in a near fog, his mind not quite connecting with the words Helena was saying. Perhaps he did not want to believe what she was trying to tell him. His hand moved to touch hers. Koenig was stunned when she pulled away. "Helena, I … You know how I feel about you. The others do not really fathom it but we …"
She looked into his eyes. Startling in their intensity, the blue was still beautiful to her despite their grave conversation. He was troubled but Helena, as hard as she tried, could not see past his duplicity. "I see you differently, John. No matter how much I appreciate what you did, knowing that everyone on Alpha grasps the importance of your sacrifice, you still … hurt me." Helena tried to explain it further, knowing it was unfair. He had to do what he did. But he did it to her and, perhaps because she was still traumatized, Helena could not find it in her heart to forgive him. "You deserve the Alphans appreciation. Honestly, you do. As one of your people … I understand … but …" She gulped, pain and turmoil now registering, "I am sorry, John. I need you to leave."
He was completely stupefied, "Helena."
"Go now, please." She turned her head and looked away from him. She had nothing further to say.
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