(3)

Day five brought with it the news they had been dreading.

"Incompatibility." Maya sighed. "The component that has no name is a serious fly in our ointment." she said, recalling how Tony once used that phrase. The readings were sitting before her on a makeshift desk just outside of Eagle 10. Breakfast was cooking on their campfire, a nurse and technician tending to it, and the Psychon was surrounded by friends, co-workers, and her Commander. "It won't harm us now but later, say fifty years from now, it could build up in each of our systems and kill us. No telling what it will do to our descendants."

"Helena?" Koenig asked.

She had been working on a hand held scanner, studying the results Computer had deciphered from Maya's calculations. "Confirmed." Helena replied, "It's like a layer of slime or plaque clogging our arteries. Sadly no form of healthy eating or exercise will save us from it. We can only hope, over time, we and the planet's doctors come up with a cure."

"I don't understand." Verdeschi appeared annoyed, "The Irrigateans are not affected. Their people have lived here for a half million years."

"And have adapted." Helena concurred. "We are much the same but there are differences, this being one of them."

"Could we adapt?" Koenig asked.

"Too few of us, Commander. Too short of time." Maya said. Perhaps an Alphan mixing with an Irrigatean native could produce a child immune from the component – and, as Helena said, the Irrigatean scientists have said in years to come they might come up with a cure for we Alphans. But they cannot be sure."

Helena added, with a sigh - "There are no guarantees."

"In other words if we stay we could be risking the lives of all the Alphans." Alan took a breath and looked at Koenig, "If you want my opinion, we should all go back to the moonbase. And before you think I'm being rash …" he quickly added, "I talked to some of the Irrigateans and they agree with me about my theory. Sooner or later this planet is going to be completely covered with water."

Maya somewhat reluctantly acquiesced, "It may not happen for hundreds of years but it will happen. I have been doing some calculating and while the Irrigateans, with their gills, may survive for a while they too could be in trouble."

"How can they in good conscience invite us to live here if …?" Verdeschi started.

"They plan on building under water structures." Koenig said, "I talked with many of the planet's top technicians and engineers, one of which is Ruler Walas son, Seail, and they showed me schematics, blue prints, and some are already in the processes of being built. They say in the next ten years one will be operational and self-sufficient."

"Sound familiar?" Verdeschi asked.

"It will be like living on another Moonbase Alpha but under water." Koenig said.

Helena noted that he seemed deeply disturbed by this development but also appeared to be struggling with something else that was not quite as apparent; At least not to the others. She wondered if it had something to do with Tetia.

Maya and the others nodded, "It may be more secure, the air piped in from the atmosphere around us. And their building materials are excellent, along with an advanced technology …"

"It comes down to our people. Do they want to live like this, have their children's children live under the water in a bubble, or take their chances in outer space?" Alan surmised.

Once again, Helena looked up at John – wondering what he was thinking. And once again – he did not meet her eyes.


The vote was finalized and the landing party heard from those on Alpha within an hour after Koenig's piped-in message. He explained in detail that life on Irrigatea could work but clearly added it was also unclear if, in their lifetime, they could adapt. It could also be a disaster, he said, but if they trusted in the Irrigatean scientists – along with their own – a solution might be possible. Perhaps a few could stay on the planet if they wanted to risk it but if the vote was too close to call, if they were still confused, he would make the final decision for all personnel.

As it turned out, the Commander did not have to decide. The Alphans voted overwhelmingly to stay on Moonbase Alpha. They wanted to take their chances in deep space.

Three of the four Eagles were sent back to the moon, fresh supplies, a remarkable array of minerals, flora and fauna in tow. It was thought that, all things considered, the Alphans could have done worse.

The remaining Eagle, consisting of the command crew, stayed to do a little more studying, exchanging information with the Irrigateans, and they were also asked to attend a lavish supper the following day.

The party was Ruler Walas way of apologizing, hoping there was no animosity between Alphans and Irrigateans. Despite Commander Koenig's assurance that no ill will was exchanged, Walas still felt the need to show his appreciation. He told them there would be rooms prepared in the palace for them not just to change in – for the affair was to be formal – but to sleep in that final evening. He understood they would have to leave on the seventh day.

The Alphans accepted the kind invitation.


Helena sat on the pier, a piece of dried seaweed between her fingers, and she looked out at the water, marveling at its pure beauty. She hadn't done something like this since she was a child, her legs dangling over the wooden dock, her boots beside her. Her feet were not in the water, merely dangling above it, but she enjoyed the peaceful splashing against the wooden legs of the landing. She smiled while seeing the fish – pink, green and yellow – swimming below in the crystal clear water. They were alien, like nothing she had seen before, but appeared so peaceful.

Distracted, Helena suddenly felt a presence behind her and was surprised to see the Commander looking down at her, "John?" she queried. They hadn't been alone together for a long time. It seemed strange and a little uncomfortable.

Carefully, he sat down beside her and crossed his legs. They did not say anything for a count of thirty second when Koenig cleared his throat and spoke with a somewhat hesitant edge. "I wanted you to know before anyone else …"

She looked at him and felt her heartbeat quicken in dread. "What?"

"I may not be returning to Alpha."

Stunned, Helena could only stare at him, speechless.

"I've been asked to stay here, to help with the design and construction of the under-water cities, and I think I may do that."

"John," Helena found her voice, "Your place is on Alpha. You should be with your people."

"There was a time I would agreed with you, Helena. But more and more I think Alpha will do very well without me."

"That's ridiculous." Helena tried hard to keep her voice calm, "You are Alpha's Commander. We need you."

"A job Tony can do very well."

"Have you forgotten the potential danger here …?" It then came to Helena that Walas invitation was not the only reason John wanted to stay. "Tetia." She nearly whispered and knew she got it right when he looked from the water directly at her, finally meeting her eyes after weeks of avoiding them. "You are staying to be with her."

He was quiet for a moment then, "Partly. She wants me and, I can't lie to you Helena, she makes me feel things …"

"… that I could never make you feel?" Try as she might Helena could not keep the hurt from her voice.

"No." John turned slightly and placed a hand on Helena's shoulder, "I loved you. I really did, Helena. But now things are different; have changed. I need you to try and understand how important it is for me to move on. My life on Moonbase Alpha is over. Irrigatea and its people want and need me … and I need what they are proposing; to be a part of a whole new civilization … even if it is imperfect. I have faith in their science. I'll live a long life here."

And he also needs an escape. "And you honestly believe the people of Alpha, all those you will be abandoning, do not need you?"

"No, Helena. They don't need me. I am a Commander, a figure-head, and the loss of me will hardly make a difference in the running of the moonbase."

She wanted to scream "It's not true!" but could not. He was resolute in his desertion. He was disguising being a coward with thoughts of necessity and a new alien love, even if he would not admit it. And what kind of woman understood that his life could be endangered on her world but wanted him here anyway?

Helena wondered what was happening in his mind. Why could she not reach him? She never suspected John was so low as to believe he needed to run from his command. Yet, she also felt that Tetia, her alien allure, was a big factor in taking him away from Alpha, his friends and – yes – even her. Perhaps the Irrigateans had magic in their kisses. "I hope if this is something you truly decide to do, John, that you do not discover you have made a terrible mistake. Because there will be no coming back once the moon is away."

"I've been thinking about it long and hard, Helena. I'm still thinking about it."

She looked away from him, miserable.

"I need to go talk with Tony." He said after a few moments of silence and got to his feet. "Do you understand why I had to tell you before everyone else?" he asked, looking down at her. She said nothing, merely looked out at the ocean. His voice was gentle as he murmured, "Because I still care about you, Helena, and did not want you to hear it from someone else before I could tell you. I owe you that."

"Thank you, John." She said in a small voice, continuing to look outward. It was the ultimate rejection, to be abandoned by your one time lover, the man you still loved, for another woman and another planet.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

He waited for a few more seconds before turning and walking down the pier to their encampment.

Helena closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands.

She did not notice, through her despair, that the lovely colorful fish she had been appreciating minutes before were now baring sharp teeth. Hungry or merely working on instinct, they were attempting to snap at the bottom of her distant feet. They calmed when she slipped on her boots, got to her feet, and walked from the landing.


Not far away, Tetia and her brother, Seail, had watched the scene from the balcony of her bedroom. They had a perfect view of the beach and ocean from where they stood. While they could not hear what was said it was disturbing enough for Tetia to see her potential paramour, John Koenig, sitting in such close proximity with his past lover, Helena Russell.

Tetia glanced at her attractive older brother, heir to the throne of Irrigatea, and said, "I need you to do me a favor."

The man chuckled ever so slightly. He had a drink in his hand, cuzi-root berries fermented in a lovely wine, "Why not get Trey to do it for you. Your little love-struck tag-along will do anything you ask, sister."

"Because I need someone like you, handsome and a good speaker, a scoundrel, to keep Dr. Russell distracted until she leaves in a couple days."

"Jealous?" he asked glibly.

"Let's just say I'm cautious. John Koenig is mine but the past has a way of clouding men's minds."

"Well, it will be a pleasure. She is quite lovely and I'm sure my charms will not be lost on her." Seail sipped his drink. "Are you certain Koenig is as enamored of you as you suspect?"

"He better be." Tetia nearly hissed, "I plan on him being the father of our children."

Seail looked from the lights on the beach, brightening in the twilight, to his sister.

His children, when Seail got around to having them in twenty or thirty years, would be the true rulers of their world. That would be after their father's two hundred year reign. Seail planned on living a long and productive life.

Both he and Tetia would be found legitimate partners of the purest Irrigatea blood.

Tetia was young and often not of sound mind. She did not see or want to see the big picture. She would never have John Koenig's children. Only off-spring of true Irrigatea blood were in line. No amount of arguing with their father would change that.

John Koenig, no matter what she or he thought, would only ever be her plaything. He was a lover, probably to be shared by many lower Irrigatea women, to build up their population once the underwater cities were completed, and he would watch her marry another.

And one day, he knew, his sister would grow tired of Koenig - as she had with so many men in the past.


to be continued ...