CHAPTER 4
Helena Russell slowly but diligently worked her wrist free from the loose cuff. All the while she looked into Dr. Mathias' office, noting the white sleeve of his uniform and dark hair, making certain he was not watching her or did not spot what she was attempting.
She and Roberto Blanco were the only two occupants in the ward and he was medicated; deeply asleep. The nurses were busy with inventory and Mathias was working at his console. His back was to her and Helena was grateful as she pulled the clip from the other cuff. She then quietly unstrapped herself from the restraints that held her onto the bed.
They meant well, she thought, John and the others. But they simply could not understand the nearly psychic perception she had into their future. They did not hear the voices or feel the pain in her head. They did not see the visions …
Quietly, Helena slipped from the mattress, still watching Dr. Mathias. Carefully, she pulled off her pajama shirt and replaced it with the white robe that was lying at the end of her bed. Inside the material of the medical sleep-wear was a thin tracking disk, illuminating respiration and temperature. It was standard. All patients had them. Helena was wise enough to dispense with the problem before it caused a glitch in her escape plain. The minute she left the unit they would know where she was.
"Big Brother." She heard in her ear and knew it was Mateo.
She had reasoned it all out. Or so she had thought.
Slipping on the bed shoes (provided when Helena was up taking bathroom breaks or stretching for exercise), she backed-up in the direction of the Medical Center doors. She had to get away even if she did not know where exactly she was going. All Helena truly understood was she could not go to that spaceship and be subjected to unknown terrors and torture. She so wished John could understand her fear and intuition!
Carefully, Helena touched the button which sliced the doors open and saw Dr. Mathias' head bob marginally when he heard the gentle hum. She was out of the unit and running down the hall. Helena did not get far when she heard the alert.
Commander Koenig's voice came over the moonbase's sound system, "Attention all sections Alpha. Be on the lookout for Dr. Helena Russell. Approach with extreme caution but do not apprehend. Contact Security immediately." The last was said with evident sorrow. "She may be dangerous."
Helena nearly cried. She thought she would have more time and clearly could not go back to her quarters now. It would be the first place they looked. Frightened, Dr. Russell ran along the corridor, thankfully deserted with the exception of her apparitions. They appeared at every turn as she ran the halls of Moonbase Alpha.
"Dr. Russell, stop!" Laura called, "Do not run from your fate!"
Another turn and Warren was waiting, blocking her path. "Are you daft?" he asked, "You cannot escape what is destined!"
Angered, Helena ran right through him.
She soon found herself outside of Hydroponics, breathing hard and hearing the click of booted heels as they approached from behind her.
Helena turned about and saw Mateo, a burned and disfigured hand reaching for her.
"Stop!" he called, "Do not go in there!"
If he was making such a demand it was obviously safe, Helena thought. She pushed the door opener and rushed inside. Only a few Alphans were working and they were concentrating so deeply on their projects, slightly turned away from Dr. Russell, that they did not see her in the large leafy expanse.
Various planet life, including bushes and trees, surrounded the area and Helena squeezed herself into a corner with tall grasses and a fruit baring bush. She was well hidden and relaxed slightly, at first resting her head against a wall then drawing her legs up so she could place her forehead against her knees, blocking out the light that hurt her eyes. Helena was so tired, both from her run, her illness and the medication she was fed every morning. The woman's eyes closed and she fell gently asleep.
In her dream, Helena remembered a time, long ago, when she was a little girl. She was in a hospital and had her tonsils removed. She recalled awakening, unable to speak, feeling strange with a sore throat, but seeing the face of her Mother above her as they rolled her from the operating theatre to her hospital room, "Mama." She tried to whisper." And felt the woman's soft hand on her shoulder.
She felt safe.
Helena longed for that same sensation again, for someone to speak gently to her, telling her all would be well. She wanted to feel loving, honest arms embrace her.
"Dr. Helena Russell. We must speak."
Awake, Helena breathed in sharply. She had been found … but no. She did not recognize this voice, the woman sounding so mature and knowledgeable. Anxious, Dr. Russell looked up and saw her.
She was very fair, with an intelligent face, cragged with years. The female alien had white hair and was enshrouded with a black cloak. "I am Arra. You have heard of me?"
Helena licked her lips. Was this another trick of her unhealthy mind?
"No it is not. I am real." Arra said, reading her thoughts, "I come to you because you do not yet understand. Without you my world is fated for destruction."
"But Mateo, Laura and Warren …"
"My fault, I fear. They were delusions of your guilty mind but I thought to use them to convince you to come to us, to have the necessary surgical procedure, and find yourself healed. Little did I know that it would have the opposite outcome."
Helena was shaking, trying desperately to comprehend, and feeling the discomfort in her head intensify. "John …" she gulped slightly, "He helped you. The moon and Altheria touched."
"Yes. Your people and my people are fated to meet again and again, Doctor. Strange that two such small, insignificant pebbles of dust in the vast galaxy should save lives a multitude of times."
"I do not understand."
"One day you will." Arra assured, "For now just grasp that you must be well. And someday, I pledge, you will find the deep love and understanding you seek, and the fulfillment you desire. You will go on to do great things, Dr. Russell."
"You can see my future?"
"A future." Arra spoke carefully.
"I can't understand why your people find me so important."
"You and yours, Dr. Russell."
"Mine?" She looked up into the wise face, "A child?"
"A child. Many children. Hundreds of years will have passed but a child, a brave man or woman, of your blood line will save the universe. It is so ordained."
Stunned awareness suddenly saturated Helena's expression, "And it will start with me? Me and …?"
"You know the answer to that question." Something close to a smile appeared on Arra's erudite features. "Or you will very soon."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"You need to know. But, in time, you will forget. Human beings, mortal man and woman, should never know their future – or it will change."
Helena said, "I believe you." She was not altogether certain about the particulars but Helena did understand, nearly instinctually, that this woman was incapable of telling a falsehood. She now knew how John must have felt, Alan too, when Arra had asked them to help her people, thus saving his own. She truly was a magnificent being.
Arra's head lifted and she glanced ever so briefly over her shoulder, "Your friends are coming for you. I do not believe there will be further delay." She nearly looked a question.
"No further delay." Helena promised.
The woman disappeared and Helena, sorry to see her vanish, stood.
She stepped out of her hiding place just as John Koenig and a security team came through the Hydroponics doors. Someone with good eyes, or who had heard her talking to an unseen presence, must have alerted Main Mission, Helena surmised.
A guard had lifted a weapon but Koenig motioned him to stay still.
"Helena?" he asked.
"I'm all right, John." She said and meant it, approaching him. Helena did not hear the voices and her head did not hurt as it had only a few minutes ago. She smiled gently and felt some regret for what she must have put he and Victor through. "I think we need to leave the moonbase and get this tumor removed."
Koenig was a little taken aback by her new attitude. He wondered briefly if this was a temporarily lapse or if Helena was sincere.
"I'd like to change into my uniform before we go, John. Is that okay?"
"Yes." He replied warily, still a little dazed. "I'll go with you. We lift off in fifteen minutes, Helena." He looked at the guards, "Dismissed." He told them, "Tell Dr. Mathias and Main Mission I have Dr. Russell in hand. Also, tell Professor Bergman we will meet him in the Eagle."
The two men hesitated but did as their Commander ordered.
As they left Hydroponics and he walked Helena to her quarters Koenig asked, "Helena, are you sure you are all right?"
She smiled up at him, "Perfectly." Then, as they reached the door to her quarters, the Commander using his comlock, Helena said: "I spoke with Arra."
And she stepped in.
Koenig nearly tripped as he walked in after her.
/
More to come.
Thank you Becky99.
