CHAPTER 3
In three days they would be on planet Neera. It was named after the son of the goddess of Tephiom, Gwent told them. Both had captured the hearts of mortals with 'indiscriminate acts of benevolence'.
Gwent had bid them a good evening shortly after they put Thomas to bed.
Helena, earlier in the day, had written a brief message to John and told him they needed to have a private talk about Neera, not for the ears of Gwent. He nodded. Although its hearing was excellent their only true advantage over the great spaceship was that it was blind to what they did, whether it be movement or writing, inside of the craft. More than once they had deployed this method of communication. Four hours of privacy was often not time enough to say what they wanted, even if it was written on a piece of paper.
"Love notes at my age." Koenig once told Helena and they had a good laugh.
Presently, she announced: "I think it's also time for us to turn in." Helena made a motion that John should test their secrecy. Briefly, it amused her that the most momentous decisions of she and John's lives, at least for the last three years, had been made in bed.
"Goodnight, Gwent." Koenig called, raising a hand for Helena to be silent for a moment.
There was no reply from the craft.
"Gwent?" Koenig called a little louder.
Still nothing. They were alone. Despite their certainty the couple retired to their bed, drew the curtain around them and lay on their sides, facing one another, and spoke very quietly.
"If we don't come back Gwent will search Neera looking for us." he warned.
"I know. He's … it's possessive."
"But, if we bring food with us and hide out, find a cave somewhere and go deep inside … Maybe it'll get tired of searching and waiting and after a week or two go on its way, find another companion somewhere."
"Can you get a sort of schematic of the planet from Gwent's computer, John?"
"There has to be something available. I'm sure he and Companion came here before or it wouldn't know about Neera. I can tell him I'm scouting for the best areas where mineral deposits can be found but, instead, I'll locate an area where we can find cover."
"What worries me is what he said about human life-forms. Will we really be the only people on this planet, John? If so, wouldn't that be just as cruel to Thomas as it might be leaving him here on Gwent?"
"I'm not certain I believe Gwent when he claims there is no one else on Neera. I've checked on it. It's habitable and has been for thousands of years at least." Koenig speculated, "Why wouldn't there be intelligent life as well? It makes little sense."
"Not unheard of, I suppose, but Gwent could be lying to us because it suspects we may leave the confines of its ship if we have other humans to relate to. It's hoping we will believe its report without question."
"Gwent should know better."
"Not so sure." Helena cautioned, "We've been very complacent, John. We pretty much do whatever Gwent asks, with little argument. Do you remember the last time it disciplined us?"
"No." Koenig admitted.
"It was just before we discovered I was pregnant with Thomas. We fought with him about building a private space for you and I. He told us there was no supplies, no room and no need for such changes …"
"Ah yes," Koenig recalled, "and we told Gwent it was a bold-faced liar." He grimaced, recalling the pain. The green light. Twenty seconds of hell that left both of them with an agonizing headache for two days.
They still argued with Gwent about small things but kept their tempers in check from then on. After Helena discovered she was expecting Thomas, she and John had become smart with regards to Gwent. They were most agreeable with it, wheedling the craft rather than fighting, and their master appeared to appreciate his companions new attitude. Content, it pretty much gave the couple whatever they asked, within reason.
More-so after their child's birth. It was Gwent who gave Koenig the crib and bed building instructions for Thomas. It also provided the pillows and linens. A finer grandfather, had it been a human being, a child could not ask for.
Yet, they could never forget they were captives. Gwent was magnanimous when he was pleased but they were still its slaves, not free, and Thomas could not be brought up thinking this was normal. They had to break free and live for themselves.
At all cost.
()
"I want to ask you something." Koenig, as he ate breakfast, called to Gwent the following morning. They were in the common area and he watched as Helena tried a new outfit on Thomas, fit for walking and exploring. She also slid sturdy shoes on the curious child. He had worn robes and gowns for so long, like his parents, that the new garb was peculiar to him. Curiosity clearly registered on his young face.
"Certainly, what is it you need to know, Commander?'
He found it odd that Gwent continued to call him by his title even though Koenig was not truly the 'commander' of anything. "Gwent, is this ship … are you making us younger?"
"I am capable of amazing feats, John Koenig, but as far as I am aware I have not conquered immortality."
Helena asked, "How old was Companion before he passed away?"
Gwent paused, saddened it seemed at the thought of his old friend. "Companion, in your Earth years, was one hundred and fifty two years old."
John and Helena looked at one another. Helena had analyzed Companion and while it was true he was not from Earth, he was humanoid. "Was that the typical life expectancy of his kind?" she asked.
Gwent did not answer.
"Gwent?"
"I do not know."
Koenig shrugged, "Maybe it's the food we're eating. It's processed by Gwent in its purest form. While it can't stop time it seems to have slowed it down." He did not know if they would ever truly understand the complete truth and, if their private plans were successful, it would not matter. He and Helena would age quickly enough under the demands and hard work on this new planet.
Helena looked up and smiled at him, reading his thoughts.
Koenig liked the idea of growing old with her.
()
It should have been successful. It might have worked if for not one home sick little boy ….
"Such treachery!" Gwent thundered.
Thomas began to cry. He had never heard Gwent so angry and he was frightened.
"Stop over-reacting, Gwent! You're upsetting …"
"I am upsetting? You have pushed me to the brink, woman! Punishment is definitely deserved for such insolence."
Helena, hearing this, bent slightly at the waist and spoke to her son. "Go to your bed, Tommy. Hide under the covers."
The boy did not hesitate. He ran to his bed, hopped in, pulled the drapes, hid under the cover and placed his hands over his ears.
Only when he was away did she call: "You have no right, Gwent! We have lived here with you for three years, have been your companions and servants, bowing and scraping to your will … We have not seen another human being since you so graciously allowed Victor Bergman to return to Alpha. Is there a wonder why we got carried away and found ourselves dreaming of a life outside these dreadful walls?
"Dreaming about it and acting upon it are two totally different things, doctor. You lied to me. Koenig gave me his word and you lied!"
"We wanted a chance at a real life, Gwent. We needed this planet!"
"But I forbad it!" Gwent roared yet again.
Helena could not help what she said next and would regret it for the rest of her life. "Gwent, you are a fool! An absolute fool!"
The green discipline light beset her without warning. Helena screamed and crumpled to her knees then fell to the floor. She did not see green but, instead, red. Crimson bubbles exploded in front of her eyes and her head felt as if it had been placed in a vice, squeezing tightly, but from which there was no escape. She heard nothing but felt everything, paralyzed and tasting blood.
Helena did not even hear his shouts as he begged Gwent to stop her suffering.
The green light disappeared and Helena, in a moment of lucidity, felt strong arms lifting her from the floor and taking her to their bed. He was away from her for just a moment but returned with a damp cloth. She did not understand why it was being placed over her nose and mouth unti it came away. She saw crimson. Helena recalled telling John once that she felt the light could cause internal injuries. It was disheartening to learn she was correct.
Her head was on fire and she lifted hands to her ears, trying to stop an incessant ringing.
Gwent said nothing. The door closed, forever parting them from Neera, and the spacecraft moved, lifting up, breaking out of the atmosphere and, once more, into deep space.
"Helena." Koenig stroked her hair, grateful that her eyes looked into his own. There was acknowledgement. Koenig had been so afraid when Thomas disappeared, when he and Helena parted. Then it came to him that Helena was right. His son wanted to go home, despite the fun he had during the day, and his home and security was on Gwent. He then turned around and followed Helena but was too late to prevent Gwent's revenge.
When he rushed in and saw her engulfed by the green light, for how long he did not know, but long enough to show visible signs of injury, Koenig knew he would give Gwent anything he asked for. John just wanted her pain to stop. And Gwent did as he was asked with no words.
Frightened, another thought suddenly came to him, "Helena, where is Thomas?"
"In bed." she managed, "Go to him, John. He must be so afraid …"
He took her hand and squeezed it gently, whispering a loving word in her ear.
She smiled weakly at him.
Koenig quickly made his way to Thomas' bed but instead of a cowering child he found the boy deeply asleep. It had taken him all day to get from where they had camped inside the cave back to the entrance. If they had done nothing else right they had given their son plenty of exercise, enough to wear him out completely. He closed the curtain then returned to Helena. "He's fine …" John started.
Her eyes had closed but opened again when he touched her cheek. "I made him angry. Gwent." she croaked, "I knew better … but couldn't help it."
Gwent had landed on Neera, in a clearing surrounded by tall trees and impressive, colorful shrubs. Initially, it had wanted the couple to take Thomas out separately. It wanted someone with him, inside the craft, at all times. Yet, the more they conversed, the more they elaborated, telling Gwent that this was important 'family time', showing Thomas they were a stable unit, Gwent eventually seemed to understand. It relented.
They would be gone all day but Gwent wanted them back and safe by nightfall. No arguments. He then made Koenig promise to do as he said.
Helena watched him, knowing John was a man of his word. It was very tough for him to lie outright and tell Gwent they would return.
They walked for miles, finally finding the cave Koenig had picked for them to hide in. Koenig pulled out flashlights for he and Helena.
They descended inside. It grew darker and colder. They worried that Thomas would become afraid but the boy was filled with eager absorption. He picked up rocks, wondering what they were, ran his hands against the cave walls, fascinated in its texture, its roughness, and when they had come upon an underground waterfall Thomas was beside himself with excitement. He, of course, had never seen anything like it but did not yet have the words to ask where it came from and if he could play in it.
The couple's main fear now was not Gwent's wrath but that Thomas would run ahead of them and possibly get hurt before they could reach him.
Eventually, he looked up at his father and asked: "Going home?"
"No, son." John told him, "We are going to be here for awhile."
That night, long after dark, they camped in a little nook, exhausted, and after a simple supper, all three fell into a deep sleep.
In the morning, when John and Helena awoke, Thomas was missing.
Initial panic gave away to logic. Koenig traveled further into the cave while Helena retraced their steps. Both promised to return to the same spot after thirty minutes, whether Thomas was found or not.
When Helena returned to the cave's entrance … Gwent was waiting. Thomas was sitting on the ramp, the door open behind him, anticipating his parents' return. He waved cheerfully at her.
Somehow, without them knowing it, Gwent had placed a trace on their child, something hidden in his clothing, and Gwent had followed them.
It was at this moment that Helena realized that she and John Koenig, during all these months on the spacecraft, had never really had privacy.
Gwent heard all and knew all. Deception. It was all a terrible, cruel trick.
()
Rage made him look from Helena, as she lay helpless on their bed, upward at their advanced, opened-spaced, comfortable home. A prison is still a prison, Koenig thought, and torture from an oppressor could no longer be tolerated. Especially when the tormented was the woman he loved. "Gwent!" Koenig shouted, furious. "You bastard! I'll make you pay for this ...!"
"No!" Helena lifted her hands and grasped his arm, "John, don't! Think of Tommy …"
He gulped and valiantly controlled his temper. She was right. It wasn't just them anymore. Gently, taking the cloth and dabbing at her ears where they had also bled a little, Koenig settled beside her on the bed and held Helena. Her head lay comfortably on his shoulder. Koenig whispered, "We are together. Some day, Helena, some day." he promised.
"Yes." she whispered, "Oh yes, my love." Then she said something odd. It really had nothing to do with their current situation but Helena spoke as if it had great significance, "John, you have the most beautiful eyes. Tommy has your eyes."
Koenig nearly chuckled, assuming this was her attempt to make him feel better about what had happened to her and all of them at the whim of their master, "What made you think of that?" he asked.
"I just wanted you to know. I love your eyes. They were the first thing that caught my attention when I saw you on Moonbase Alpha. Such attractive eyes …"
"And he has your smile." John offered, "Your beautiful smile."
She nodded against him, laying a hand on his chest.
"Get some sleep." John told her, gently.
Helena said no more.
()
When John Koenig awoke the following morning - his life was forever changed.
()
(to be continued)
