Moving On
This sequel to "Reimagined" take place nearly six months after Helena Russell leaves Moonbase Alpha. She is comfortable with her job at Manhattan General until someone shows up to either bring joy or throw her life into utter turmoil!
"Surprised?"
She stared at him, wide-eyed. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again." The woman confessed, clipboard in hand, the usually cool doctor suddenly flustered but delighted.
How foolish I must have looked. Dr. Helena Russell thought as she sat by herself in quiet Italian restaurant, gently swirling the red wine about in her glass, thoughtful. She smiled mildly, waiting for her date, looking lovely in an upswept hair-do and dark blue satin dress she had bought on a whim a couple weeks ago. 'Perhaps I knew." She thought with a bit of whimsey.
Her last days on Moonbase Alpha were fraught with frustration and anger. She did not deserve what Simmonds and the elite at Space Commission did to her, blaming her for the deaths of eleven astronauts, forcing her to agree to their terms. If she planned on keeping her head above water, continuing with her chosen career, she had to sign on the dotted line, agreeing to be incompetent.
Perhaps that was a little harsh but not far from the truth.
The only good thing to come out of that mess, besides sympathy and camaraderie from Victor Bergman, was her deepening friendship with John Koenig. He was on her side, was furious that they had made her a patsy, but he was just as locked in as she had been. Being the Commander of Moonbase Alpha, despite the title, only allowed him so much flexibility - and they were right in the middle of sending astronauts to Meta.
But now, six months later, he was debriefed and back on Earth. Koenig came home to New York and looked her up, appearing from out of nowhere, to stand before Dr. Russell in her workplace lobby. He initially fibbed and said he came in for a check-up but then confessed he wanted to take her to dinner.
It was charming and awkward. She agreed to meet him here at L'Artusi. She supposed she should have allowed him to pick her up but, despite her burgeoning feelings for John, she needed to be careful. After all, he had not exactly been diligent in his promise to let her know what was happening on Alpha and their e-mails back and forth, over the last couple months, had dwindle to practically nothing. She knew he was a busy man but could not imagine the drama that was really transpiring on the moon.
Obviously, something had happened to bring him back home so soon. He was supposed to be on the moonbase for a year, overseeing Meta and the new waste storage system. He was a strong-minded man, no nonsense, and John may have stepped on tender toes, she thought.
Helena looked up from her glass, past a throng of men and women dining quietly and happily, and saw John Koenig enter. He was quite dashing in a nice suit, so different from their moonbase uniforms, and allowed a young woman to take his coat and umbrella. The hostess pointed to where she was sitting and he smiled, catching her eye.
As John approached, Helena lifted a hand, and said: "Good to see you again, Commander."
He grasped her fingers gently as he sat across from Helena. He murmured, "Commander no more." a little sadly but not necessarily regretful.
"And that is a story worth hearing." She squeezed his hand and pulled away as the waitress brought them menus and took Koenig's drink order.
Later, waiting on their food, John gazed at Helena, "You really do look lovely. I think Earth agrees with you."
"Thank you." She smiled, warmed by the compliment, but her expression was enquiring. "Now, tell me why you are here and not on Alpha."
He nodded, sitting back a bit in his chair, and sighed gently. "They sent Victor back to London, against my wishes, weeks ago but would not tell me the reason why. When I tried to get answers from Victor he was evasive."
"Space Commission pulled him from the moon?"
"Simmonds had a large hand in it."
"But why?" Helena was genuinely surprised.
"He was working closely with the other scientists on the nuclear storage units. He told me something was not right. The new containers seemed flawed in some way. But, before he could pull all his facts and figures together he was ordered back to Earth. Space Commission said he was needed elsewhere. I was told the other scientists had the matter well in hand and Victor was given a wonderful commendation for taking care of the initial waste container issue."
Helena was quiet, waiting for the other shoe to fall.
Instead their supper arrived and, while they ate, the couple engaged in less heavy talk, chatting about her job, the weather, and even how - after months on Alpha - it was nice to eat real Italian cuisine, consume wine, and drink freshly perked coffee.
Still, even as they spoke of such mundane things, Helena sensed there was something troubling John Koenig, a fear he had yet to speak of, and it made Helena nervous. She watched him as the dishes were cleared and the waitress asked them if they would like dessert. Both declined but did accept another cup of coffee.
Over her cup, Helena whispered: "John, what happened? Why are you here on Earth?"
He looked about furtively then leaned in a little closer to her. "Helena, I suspect no changes were made to the containers. All of Victor's recommendations were scrapped. The powers that be are using the same waste containers as before, only slightly modified, and are putting them back in the ground."
Helena gulped slightly, "Are they mad?" she said aloud but low enough only for John to hear. "Don't they realize what could still happen?"
"It comes down to expense, as it always does, and Space Commission believes the simple modifications Simmonds okayed are enough. I'm sure he gave them a great speech and promised the world." Koenig's jaw set and he looked past Helena, remembering. "I vehemently opposed the idea and when I sent my own reports to Space Commission …" he paused, "I knew my days were numbered."
"Who did they get to replace you?" Helena asked, hoping but knowing better.
"Who do you think?"
"They brought back Gorsky?"
"None other."
"Damn." Angered, Helena pushed her coffee cup away and sat back in her chair.
Despite himself, Koenig liked how she looked at this moment, exasperated. There was a certain beauty in her frustration. Helena was on his side, the side of good common sense, and regardless of the situation John was warmed by her expression. She was frightened, angered, and saddened by the waste of it all. How many good men would be dismissed before a true irreversible disaster happened?
And Gorsky. He was an administrator, a man that was the next best thing to a faithful dog, sitting on Gerald Simmonds lap. The whole situation was ridiculous.
Taking an in-draw of breath, Helena calmed herself and looked again at John, grasping his passive but heavy demeanor. She asked: "What will you do now?"
He smiled, "Financially, I'm sound. I might not be Alpha's Commander but I'm still being paid for it. Still have six months on my contract and there was no truly good reason for my removal. You should have heard Alan when he discovered I was leaving …"
Helena blinked. She had nearly forgotten about Alan and the rest of the astronauts who were about to approach Meta. How many months were left. Two?
"He wanted me there to talk them down once they approached orbit. Knowing he was going to get his orders from Commander Gorsky did not go over well." John shrugged slightly, "Still, he's a smart pilot, and in a situation like this knows when to keep his mouth closed."
Helena nearly chuckled her sarcasm, "Compliant but only because he and the lives of his mates are at stake."
"Simmonds isn't that big of a fool. He knows how important Meta is and keeping Carter and his crew happy will fulfill the mission. He wants me to come back as Meta comes into view, to give the astronauts final instructions."
"From Earth?"
"As far as I know."
"And you agreed?"
He did not answer, sipping from his coffee cup, but Helena understood. John was really invested in the Meta mission. He wanted to be a part of it despite his own demotion. She reached across the table and took his hand as a sign of empathy. After all, they had something in common. Both were discarded, in the most impolite way, by Space Commission.
He drove her home, to a nice apartment complex in one of the better areas of Manhattan. As he drove, John told her he wanted them to go out again soon. "This time," he said, "No work talk. We are going to keep it fun."
Days later, they went to a play together. It was a mystery comedy that both enjoyed a great deal. That weekend they had a picnic and took a romantic carriage ride around Central Park. The following week John invited Helena up to see his penthouse.
It was a quick courtship, something which was comfortable and natural, and shortly – knowing it would happen sooner or later – the couple, friends on Alpha but freed from whatever restraints their titles demanded, John and Helena became lovers.
Theirs was a passionate and affectionate relationship. Both were happy in each other's company but they always felt a little nervous, as if sensing something unforeseeable was on the horizon. Were they over-thinking Moonbase Alpha, the waste containers, and what their lack of presence on the moon could mean?
One evening while at John's, sitting on the floor together in front of his large fireplace, Koenig received a phone call from Victor Bergman. The conversation started off casually enough, the Professor delighted that he and Helena had made a connection, but soon the dialogue took on a grave tone.
"I've been called back to Moonbase Alpha, John. They are having some trouble up there."
Both John and Helena looked at one another, alarmed but controlled.
Koenig kept his tone light, wondering if someone was listening in on their exchange. From the way he spoke Victor seemed to think so or he would be more direct with his friend. It felt a little foolish to feel so paranoid, but he would not put it passed Simmonds to monitor them without permission. "Well, I'm sure it's not anything you can't take care of, Victor."
"Thank you, John. I hope you are right."
"Good luck to you. Keep me posted – if you can."
"I will. Goodbye, John."
There was an odd finality to that that made John even more nervous.
As Professor Bergman disconnected, John could have sworn he heard a double click. He laid the receiver down in its cradle and looked at Helena who was staring up at him with wide, slightly glossy, and expressive eyes.
He held her in his arms as they watched the flames before them.
"I love you, John" she murmured.
"I love you too." He replied, gently rubbing a hand up and down her back.
A day later he asked Helena to marry him. He was overjoyed when she agreed and they set a date.
To Be Continued ….